PRETORIA - A neighbour of Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial he found the South African Paralympic star praying over the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as she lay dying.
In the trial's first account of the moments after the shooting, Johan Stipp said he tried to revive Ms Steenkamp.
During Dr Stipp's testimony, Mr Pistorius cried and seemed to retch.
The double amputee denies intentionally killing her, saying he mistook the 29-year-old model for an intruder.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old could face life imprisonment.
Dr Stipp said he could see Ms Steenkamp's brain tissue in her hair.
At this point, a police officer passed a plastic bag to Mr Pistorius.
Recalling the night of 14 February 2013, Dr Stipp said he had heard gunshots.
He said he had found Mr Pistorius kneeling by her body.
"I shot her," the Paralympic star told him. "I thought she was a burglar."
Dr Stipp said Mr Pistorius had been in an emotional state. Fearing he might hurt himself, he had asked where the gun was.