Intro:

Oscar Pistorius repeatedly breaks down under cross-examination at his murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday (14th April), forcing a number of adjournments.

Script:

The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius started again on Monday morning, as the prosecution's cross examination of the athlete entered a second week.

Chief posecutor Gerrie Nel challenged Mr. Pistorius again and again about his version of the events leading up to the death of Reeva Steenkamp.

Mr Nel accused the paralympian of "tailoring his evidence"

Mr Pistorius admits to killing his girlfriend in February of last year, but says he fired his gun after mistaking her for an intruder.

The Olympic sprinter, a double amputee, broke down in tears on several occasions as he recounted the night of the killing in front of Ms Steenkamp's family.

Chief prosecutor, Mr Nel, is known as the "bull terrier" for his fierce style of questioning, something he has demonstrated repeatedly throughout the cross-examination.

SOUNDBITE (English) Gerrie Nel, Prosecutor: "You see Mr Pistorius, you now, you now have to give a lot of answers. And you know why Mr Pistorius, it's because you know exactly. You fired at Reeva. These other versions of yours can not work. You fired at her, you did."

UPSOUND (English) Oscar Pistorius: "It's not true my lady."

Nel: "Why are you getting emotional now?"

UPSOUND (English) Oscar Pistorius: "I did not fire at Reeva (breaks down)."

As Mr. Pistorius broke down again, the prosecutor was forced to call for a further adjournment.

Upon their return to the court room, Mr. Nel pointed to forensic evidence that showed Ms Steenkamp had eaten within a couple of hours of her death.

Evidence that contradicts the athlete's version, in which the couple had last eaten around seven PM, some eight hours before she was shot.

Mr. requested an explanation for the victim's stomach contents from Pistorius, but he was unable to answer.