Defence evidence has resumed this morning in the trial of Oscar Pistorius in South Africa.

The Paralympian stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

The court is hearing from Michael Nhlengethwa, whose house is just 11 metres from the bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was fatally injured. Nhlengethwa said he was woken in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year by his wife after she heard a "bang".

"We started hearing a man crying very loudly," he said.

"We went into shock and we knew something was wrong.

"We started panicking ourselves, worrying something had happened to our neighbours or our security guard."

Asked by defence lawyer Barry Roux to elaborate on what he heard, Mr Nhlengethwa said: "There was a difference between a normal cry - somebody weeping - and a cry when you are in danger and need help.

"The cry we heard was from someone who was desperate for help. It was very loud."

Yesterday the trial heard from another neighbour who said the athlete was crying, screaming and praying continuously after shooting his girlfriend.

Journalist John-Jacques Cornish is following the trial in South Africa: