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PRETORIA, South Africa - Oscar Pistorius has been given a 10 day reprieve before he can take the stand and try and convince the court he isn't a murderer.
The much anticipated defense case was set to start on Friday, with Pistorius set to take the stand, but it turned into an anti-climax as one of the Judges' assessors was rushed to hospital.
'We cannot continue,' Judge Thokozile Masipa told the court 'as we are not fully constituted. I would suggest we postpone this matter.'
The court then postponed the case until April 7 - as the assessor Janet du Toit is unlikely to be back at her post next week.
The court would originally have been in recess from April 4 to 11, but both the prosecution and defense have confirmed they will be available to continue and make up some of the lost time.
Pistorius was anticipated to take the stand in his own defence Friday, but now has another 10 days before he will get the opportunity.
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His expensive legal team chose not to comment, but bulldog advocate Barry Roux did have a smile when asked by journalists what they should do for the next 10 days.
'Go on a nice holiday,' he joked before walking out of the court.
Du Toit is one of two legal assessors appointed by Judge Masipa to help her with the case. In South African law, judges are allowed to appoint such assessors - usually experts in one or other field that is linked with the case - to help her formulate her decision.
The court was packed to the brim as members of Reeva Steenkamp's family and friends, as well as Pistorius' family and friends, filled the benches alongside the ANC Women's League. A host of journalists in the courtroom and many members of the public were forced to head for the overflow courtroom, set up because of the immense interest in the case.
Pistorius is charged with pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. He has already admitted shooting the four shots that killed Steenkamp behind a closed door in the bathroom.
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However, where the State says Pistorius flew into a rage and killed Steenkamp after an argument, Pistorius contends he shot her out of fear and thought she was an intruder.
Lawyers for the Blade Runner have already indicated he will testify, and it is common in South African law that the defendant is the first to testify, as he has to convince the court to take his version of events into account.
There has been some speculation that it may be a strategic move for Pistorius not to testify first, but then the defense would have to show the court exceptional circumstances for them to call another witness first.
Pistorius faces at least 25 years in prison if convicted of pre-meditated murder, and is also facing three other charges relating to two shooting incidents - one where a gun accidentally went off in a crowded restaurant and another where Pistorius is alleged to have fired out of a moving car's sunroof.
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