The trial of Oscar Pistorius has been adjourned until April after one of the judge's assessors was taken ill.

The athlete was due to give evidence crucial to his defence but he will now likely enter the witness box on April 7th where he will be subject to cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

The prosecution has wrapped up its case and both sides have agreed to an extension of the trial until mid-May.

Just 18 of 107 possible witnesses were heard during the first three weeks of the trial, which is being held in Pretoria.

During the prosecution's case, the court heard about text messages Ms Steenkamp sent to Pistorius, in which she wrote: "I am sometimes scared of you."

An emotional message from Ms Steenkamp sent on January 27 last year accused Pistorius of picking on her "incessantly".