Intro:

Oscar Pistorius opened his defence with an emotional apology to Reeva Steenkamp's family and says he is too terrified to sleep.

Script:

This was one of the most dramatic days of this trial to date, a tired and emotional Oscar Pistorius was giving evidence for the first time and began by apologising to the family of his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he killed on Valentine's Day last year.

UPSOUND: (English) Oscar Pistorius: ++NOT IN VISION, OVERLAID BY VARIOUS OF TRIAL, INCLUDING STEENKAMP FAMILY - STARTS ON SHOT OF JUDGE++

"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mrs and Mr Steenkamp, to Reeva's family, to those of you who knew her who are here today."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Thokozile Masipa, Judge:

"Mr Pistorius, I don't like doing this to you, but I can hardly hear you."

UPSOUND: (English) Oscar Pistorius: ++NOT IN VISION, OVERLAID BY VARIOUS OF TRIAL, INCLUDING STEENKAMP FAMILY - STARTS ON SHOT OF JUDGE++

"I beg your pardon my Lady, I'll speak up. I'd like to apologise and say that there's not a moment, and there hasn't been a moment, since this tragedy happened when I haven't thought about Reeva, your family. I wake up every morning and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Reeva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night she felt loved. I've tried to put my words on paper, many, many times to write to you, but no words would ever suffice."

The paralympian went on to say he has been taking anti-depressants and struggles to sleep at night.

UPSOUND: (English) Oscar Pistorius: ++NOT IN VISION, OVERLAID BY VARIOUS OF TRIAL, INCLUDING STEENKAMP FAMILY - STARTS ON SHOT OF ATTENDEES++

"I have terrible nightmares, about things that happen at night where I wake up and I can smell blood and I wake up to being terrified. If I hear a noise I wake up in a complete state of terror to a point that I'd rather not sleep."

It was that lack of sleep that led to an early ajournment today.

UPSOUND: (Defence lawyer Barry Roux requests adjournment, prosecution and judge agree.)

Pistorius admits he killed Steenkamp but insists he mistook her for an intruder, the trial will resume tomorrow.