Marks on Pistorius' toilet door caused by Paralympian's bat, says forensic expert

A South African police forensic expert has testified during the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius on Tuesday that the marks on the Paralympian's toilet door were probably caused by the corner of the bat he claimed to have used to bash it down.

Forensic expert Roger Dixon, who claimed to also have done tests on another door, analysed the cricket bat Pistorius claimed to have used to break down the door with the bat, with its tip soaked in Reeva Steenkamp's blood, having grooves in it.

According to News24, Dixon said that the last blow Pistorius made with the bat broke through the door, adding that the powerful blows had caused a strong vibration which resulted in the destruction and removal of a strip of tiles and plaster on the other side of the door.

Dixon further said that the grooves occurred on the bat when the tip got stuck on the door, adding that as the door had been made of Meranti wood, while the bat was English Willow, the door broke as Meranti wood splintered easily.

Pistorius has been charged with murdering his girlfriend Steenkamp in his Pretoria house on 14 February last year although he claims to have mistaken her for an intruder, the report added.