Pieter Baba, who works as a security guard at the Silverwoods Country Estate in Pretoria, testified that when he phoned the athlete to investigate the shots, Pistorius told him "security, everything is fine."
But Baba noticed the Paralympian was crying. "Not everything was in order as Mr Pistorius was telling me," he said, "I then tried to speak to Mr Pistorius so that he can calm down."
The security guard said the phone connection was lost, then he received another incoherent call from the sprinter.
Pistorius, 27, has denied intentionally killing Steenkamp and has pleaded not guilty to three other charges, including one of firing a gun through a moving car's sunroof and to illegal possession of ammunition.
Baba, wearing a collared red shirt and speaking through a translator, recounted that he entered Pistorius's house to see the runner carrying mortally injured Steenkamp down the stairs.
"My lady I was so shocked," said Baba, "I couldn't even think for a few minutes."
Defence lawyer Barry Roux questioned Baba if he heard the athlete correctly. "Did Mr Pistorius say 'everything is ok' or 'is he ok'?" asked Roux.
Roux indicated that Pistorius would take the stand to give his account of events.
Earlier, the court heard emotional evidence from an ex-girlfriend of Pistorius, who testified that the Paralympian often carried a gun with him and once fired at a traffic light after a confrontation with police.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
