Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused the 27-year-old of concocting evidence in his defence against the charge of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentines' Day last year.
"It's the state's case, Pistorius, that she wanted to leave and that you weren't sleeping, you were both awake," said Nel.
"That's not correct my lady, that's untrue," Pistorius replied softly.
"There was an argument," Nel said, drawing another denial.
Nel repeatedly described the athlete's explanation that he accidentally shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door as "so improbable that it cannot be reasonably possible".
During the relentless back-and-forth Pistorius and Nel at times appeared to come close to bickering.
Nel complained that Pistorius was being evasive and challenged him: "Today I pick up you're not sure about things, is anything wrong?" Nel asked. "You're fine?"
Pistorius grew increasingly restless during the morning, wiping his face, pinching the bridge of his nose and clenching his jaw.
Jumping from one event or piece of evidence to another, Nel sought to keep Pistorius off balance.
A forensic pathologist earlier testified that she must have eaten around two hours before her death, which contradicts the accused's version they were sleeping at the time.
The defence has disputed the science that stomach contents could accurately indicated the time of the last meal.
The athlete was also asked to explain why Steenkamp's jeans were lying on the floor while the rest of her possessions were neatly arranged.
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
