Pretoria, South Africa: “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius broke down when a South African court heard details from the autopsy of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom the track star is accused of murdering on Valentine’s Day last year.

The testimony of pathologist Gert Saayman was interrupted twice by Pistorius’ sobbing and retching but the defense team argued against an adjournment, saying a break would not improve the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete’s state of mind.

Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa imposed a broadcast blackout on Saayman’s testimony out of respect for Steenkamp’s family and to prevent viewers such as children from accidentally hearing its contents.

“Broadcast would compromise the privacy of the deceased, hurt the interests of the Steenkamps and be against the morals of society,” Saayam said when he took the stand to argue for a temporary broadcast blackout of the trial, which had so far been shown in its entirety on live television.

Media restrictions

Masipa, who has been presiding over the week-long trial, extended the ban to live reporting on Twitter.

Pistorius admits he shot Steenkamp, 29, but argues that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity and that he thought she was an intruder who had broken in to his luxury Pretoria home.

In his testimony, Saayman confirmed that Steenkamp died from multiple gunshot wounds, having been hit in the head, arm and hip by three shots fired through the locked door of a toilet cubicle. A fourth round fired by Pistorius missed.

As Saayman spoke, Pistorius sat with head bowed, covering his ears with his hands and a white handkerchief.

Sayaam is the first expert to testify at the trial, which has so far heard several witnesses who reported hearing a woman screaming before a volley shots in the early hours of February 14 at Pistorius’ home.

The killing stunned South Africa and the millions of Pistorius supporters around the world who admired the athlete as a symbol of triumph over physical adversity.

He had his disabled lower legs amputated as a baby but - running on carbon fibre prosthetic “blades” - made it to the semi-final of the 400 meters at the London 2012 Olympics competing against able-bodied sprinters. If found guilty of murder, he faces at least 25 years behind bars.

Meanwhile, the judge banned all live broadcast of autopsy evidence given by a forensic medicine expert.

Pathologist Gert Saayman said that broadcasting his report could compromise the “dignity of the deceased”.

The Paralympic athlete denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He vomited in court as he heard the autopsy report.

Mr Saayman used the following arguments to persuade Judge Thokozile Masipa to ban broadcasts of his autopsy report:

Graphic details

“Very personal nature of the findings”.

  “Graphic details of the injuries have the potential to compromise the dignity of the deceased”.

   It may “harm the rights” of friends and family of the deceased.

  “Goes against the morals of society”.

The judge also banned coverage of the details of the autopsy report through Twitter.

Large parts of the trial have been televised - a first for South Africa - but there are some media restrictions in place.

For example, there is a ban on showing the faces of witnesses giving evidence, as well as on close-up shots of people in the courtroom.

Earlier, a security guard at the compound where Pistorius lived defended his own account of phone calls made in the minutes after the shooting of Ms Steenkamp.      

— Agencies