PRETORIA, South Africa - Oscar Pistorius murder trial enters a critical phase Monday as his defence team attempts to recover from a faltering start and reinforce the disabled athletes claim that he fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by mistake because he was overwhelmed by a long-held fear of violent crime. Pistorius mindset when he stood on his stumps in a bathroom and pulled the trigger on his 9 mm pistol in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013 remains the crux of the South African trial that has captured worldwide attention and is about to start its seventh week of globally televised proceedings. It was initially scheduled to run for three weeks. Judge Thokozile Masipa will analyze thousands of pages of testimony before she reaches a verdict, but ultimately must ponder the pivotal question: Did Pistorius fire his gun with the intention to kill or out of a misplaced belief that his life was in danger from a perceived intruder? South Africa does not have trial by jury, meaning Masipa will decide, with the help of two assessors, if Pistorius overall account is believable and whether the apparent inconsistencies in his testimony count against him or are unimportant in the bigger picture. If Pistorius defence, which will resume calling witnesses Monday after a two-week trial recess, can show that his story of a tragic error is a reasonable explanation, even the double-amputee runners shaky testimony would be rendered irrelevant and the judge should acquit him of murder, legal experts say. While testifying, Pistorius sometimes contradicted earlier testimony and other times said he did not remember details. "The test doesnt end there," former state prosecutor Marius du Toit said of Pistorius testimony. "Its not over. They (the defence) can still show there is another plausible scenario." Du Toit has over 20 years experience in South Africas criminal justice system and is following the trial closely. He said it must be shown that Pistorius had the "sole intention" to kill Steenkamp to be convicted of murder. Pistorius, 27, doesnt dispute that he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp through a toilet door. He claims the killing was accidental and he fired four times in quick succession without thinking and while terrified, believing that an intruder had climbed up a ladder and through a bathroom window of his Pretoria villa in the pre-dawn hours and was about to come out of the cubicle and attack him. Prosecutors charge that the story is an intricate lie designed to cover up a murder. They say the couple fought, Steenkamp fled to the toilet screaming and Pistorius followed her and shot her through the wood door while they were arguing. She was hit in the hip, arm and head. Charged with premeditated murder, the first amputee to run at the Olympics faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He was once widely admired for overcoming the amputation of his lower legs as a baby to earn the right to run against the worlds top able-bodied athletes. The prosecutions case appeared to be bolstered as holes in Pistorius story were exposed when the athlete was on the stand for a fierce five-day cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel. Nel also succeeded in undermining the evidence given by the defences first two expert witnesses, a pathologist and a former police forensic scientist. But defence lawyers have only presented three of up to 17 witnesses they say they may ask to testify. At the outset of the defences case, lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius actions on Valentines Day last year centred on his "disability" and "vulnerability" and Pistorius team will likely seek to rebuild the overall argument that his actions were guided by fear and not anger in a country with a high rate of violent home invasions. Roux said he will also show that a crucial thread of the prosecutions case is not true; that neighbours heard a woman screaming before and during the shots fired by Pistorius at around 3.17 a.m. on the fatal night. The lawyer said neighbours who live closer to Pistorius house in an upscale gated community in the suburbs of South Africas capital never heard a woman scream. Instead, it was Pistorius high-pitched shrieks for help after realizing his terrible mistake, the defence argues. Terry Bradshaw Jersey . -- Shanshan Feng was alone in her opinion about the pin positions in the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Dan McCullers Jersey . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. http://www.officialpittsburghsteelersfoo...r-jersey-womens. - Andrew McCutchen went 4 for 5 and finished a home run short of a cycle, and Jordy Mercer drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Stephon Tuitt Jersey . Messis father, Jorge Horacio Messi, is apparently still under investigation for an alleged 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in unpaid taxes from Messis image rights from 2007-09. Messis public relations firm confirmed Spanish media reports that the state prosecutor has asked for Messi to be dropped from the investigation that began in June 2013. Mike Webster Jersey . Sundays game against the Colorado Rapids at B.C. Place Stadium has important implications in determining Major League Soccers playoff picture and will also mark the final game in the career of veteran South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee.TORONTO -- Mark Buehrle is putting his faith in the fielding of his Toronto Blue Jays teammates and its paying off. "I need defence behind me," Buehrle said. "Its a key. I dont strike out many guys so the ball is put in play." The results showed again for the Blue Jays soft-throwing left-hander who became the first 10-game winner in the major leagues on Sunday in Torontos 4-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. By working quickly and efficiently, Buehrle pitched eight strong innings and was supported by home runs from Dioner Navarro and Edwin Encarnacion as well as some solid defence. The game was played in a brisk two hours 14 minutes. "Its not luck," Blue Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista said. "Hes pitching great, throwing strikes, keeping people off balance and allowing us a chance to play defence behind him. Its no surprise that every time he pitches there are plenty of good defensive plays made. He keeps everybody engaged in the game because he works quick. Its been awesome to play behind him this year." Buehrle (10-1) held the Royals to six hits and one walk while striking out three to win his sixth straight decision. "I dont know if its one of those things where working fast keeps them on their toes and ready to field stuff," Buehrle said. "I dont if that is the key to it. Again I just try to get the ball and throw it and I know the guys like to play behind you when its a quick game. I need those guys all over the place when Im pitching." Toronto manager John Gibbons thought it was one of Buehrles best performances this season. "Today (Buehrle) was as good as he has been all year," said Gibbons. "He has really been great, seems like every time I come in here you have to describe it the same way. Thats what he does, he keeps you off balance and hits both sides of the plate. Hes a pitcher. ... He topped off a nice home stand for us." Left-hander Aaron Loup took over in the ninth from Buehrle after Encarnacions two-run homer in the eighth had extended the lead to four runs. The Blue Jays (34-24) took the final two games of the four-game series to gain a split with the Royals (26-30) and finish their home stand at 8-2. Toronto has won 21 of their past 28 games to take over first place in the American League East. "(Buehrle) was dynamite," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Hes traditionally tough on us but hes 10-1 now, hes tough on everybody. Hes a master at what he does. He commands the baseball so well, changes speeds off everything he has. He has the ability to read the hitters reaction to the pitch before to know what hes going to throw next. If the hitter is gearing up, he backs off, if the hitter is backing off, he gears up. "He just pitched a phenomennal game.dddddddddddd Hes just really, really good at keeping you off balance." Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (2-5) allowed eight hits and two runs in seven innings to go 10 starts without a win after winning his first two starts of the season. Guthrie allowed two walks and had five strikeouts before he was replaced by right-hander Aaron Crow in the eighth. Navarro hit his third homer of the season with one out in the second to open the scoring. The Blue Jays scored again in the fourth. Juan Francisco led off with a double on a liner that Kansas City right-fielder Norichika Aoki misplayed into a double. Francisco moved to third on a single by Brett Lawrie. He scored when Anthony Gose forced Lawrie at second on a grounder to shortstop. A key defensive play came in the sixth after a slight lapse. Eric Hosmer led off a bloop to centre that turned into a double when the Blue Jays left second uncovered. But shortstop Jose Reyes cut down Hosmer at third after fielding Billy Butlers grounder and Buehrle finished the inning unscathed. "In a two-run game, thats big," Gibbons said. "Thats what good shortstops do, he knew he had no play at first base. ... Ive seen it, too, through my career that the third baseman doesnt always get there, so (third baseman) Francisco was heads up to get there himself." Encarnacion, who hit 16 homers in May to lead the majors, doubled the Blue Jays lead with his 19th homer of the season in the eighth against Crow. It also scored Adam Lind who had singled with one out. Things are also going Buehrles way. In the sixth inning Lorenzo Cains popup to first dropped in fair territory when Encarnacion lost the ball but it rolled foul. Cain then struck out. "He called me off and then said a cuss word in Spanish which was one of the few Spanish words I know," Buehrle said. "Ive got a horseshoe stuck up my rear end pretty far right now so Im not complaining." NOTES: After the game the Blue Jays returned right-handed pitcher Liam Hendriks to triple-A Buffalo on option. A corresponding move will be made on Tuesday. aThe Blue Jays finished May at 21-9. aRoyals recalled third baseman Mike Moustakas from triple-A Omaha for Sundays game and put third baseman Danny Valencia (left hand muscle strain) on the 15-day disabled list. .... The Royals also recalled left-handed reliever Francisley Bueno (left little finger contusion) from his minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Omaha and returned right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks to triple-A on option. aThe Blue Jays have Monday off before playing a three-game series in Detroit that opens Tuesday with Drew Hutchison (4-3, 3.88 earned-run average) facing Anibal Sanchez (2-2, 2.49 ERA). 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