MH370: Hunt Resumes For Plane's Black Box

The hunt for missing flight MH370 has resumed as authorities race to identify further signals which could point to the location of the plane's black box recorder.

The search operation is seeking to determine the black box's exact resting place in the southern Indian Ocean before the device's beacons fade.

The Australian defence vessel Ocean Shield will today carry out "focused sweeps" of the search area with a towed pinger locator in an attempt to pick up more signals.

Today's operation covers an area of 15,982 square miles, some 1,450 miles northwest of Perth.

A message for family members seen in Kuala Lumpur

Nine military aircraft, one civil plane and 14 ships will assist in the search, according to the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC).

"Today, Australian defence vessel Ocean Shield continues more focused sweeps with the towed pinger locator to try and locate further signals related to the aircraft's black boxes," JACC said.

"This work continues in an effort to narrow the underwater search area for when the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle is deployed."

Ocean Shield has already picked up four signals linked to aircraft black boxes, with the first two revealed to be consistent with signals from aircraft flight recorders.

The beacons on the plane's flight data and cockpit voice recorders only have a normal battery lifespan of around 30 days.

The renewed search comes after Australia's prime minister said searchers were "very confident" that signals detected in the Indian Ocean are from the plane's black box.

A relative beside a banner dedicated to passengers at Lido Hotel in Beijing

Tony Abbott told reporters during a visit to China that authorities have "very much narrowed down the search area".

"We are very confident that the signals that we are detecting are from the black box," he said.

"Nevertheless, we're getting into the stage where the signal from what we are very confident is the black box is starting to fade.

"We are hoping to get as much information as we can before the signal finally expires."

The Malaysia Airlines plane went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board.

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Kate and William Wow The Crowds In Cambridge

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Cambridge, New Zealand, has a population of about 18,000 people and 15,000 of them turned out to cheer and wave at the Duke and Duchess who share their town's title.

Amid sunshine and showers William and Kate, dressed in an emerald green dress, greeted fans after paying their respects at a memorial to the town's war dead.

Kate later confessed to one well-wisher that her green Erdem outfit was a "bit bright" for William.

During a walkabout Kate's eyes lit up when she spotted a baby boy in the crowd. He responded with a prolonged yawn, much to the amusement of his family and the laughing Duchess.

The couple are on a 19-day tour which will also take them to Australia

Also in the crowd was Pam McCaroll, who had brought with her a small statuette of Kate cradling Prince George as a newborn baby.

She said: "She said to me 'where did you get that!' and I told her I collected memorabilia. She laughed and I shook her hand."

Kate's solo engagement took her to a children's hospice

Earlier the couple went their separate ways, the Duke to an aeronautical company and the Duchess to a children's hospice, Rainbow Place in Hamilton.

As well as caring for terminally sick children the centre also offers help to youngsters who are grieving for a parent or have a parent with a serious illness.

Sat at a tiny table, Kate had a play tea party with six-year-old Bailey Rupe, whose mother has breast cancer.

She asked the little girl: "Are you having tea? Can I sit with you? How is mummy doing?

Prince George has some growing to do before he can take his gift for a spin

"Do you find it difficult sometimes? Yes, I'm sure you do, but you're a very brave little girl."

Bailey said afterwards: "I was excited to meet a real princess and it made me feel like a princess for the day too."

One cheeky youngster asked Kate if even royalty have to eat their vegetables.

"Yes I do. I have to eat all my vegetables and so does George," she replied.

She later joined William in opening a new velodrome in Cambridge.

After meeting members of New Zealand's sporting elite including world and Olympic champions in cycling, rowing and canoeing, the couple were presented with a gift for their son.

Prince George has been given a mini bike, complete with helmet and Lycra cycling shirt with his name on the back.

John Struthers, 76, founder of the bike firm Avanti, made the presentation and said about the royal couple: "They are very, very thrilled, he was really appreciative of it.

"It gives two-year-olds independence and freedom to take their first big step in life. She was looking forward to the time when George will be able to ride it."

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Ukraine: Gunmen Storm Two Security Buildings

Kiev Faces 'Difficult Decisions' Over Protests

Updated: 11:04pm UK, Thursday 10 April 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent, in Donetsk

Support for the protests in Donetsk, Ukraine, depends largely on the question you ask.

This may seem like a blindingly obvious point, but the immediate demands are not quite what they seemed.

The self-appointed People's Council of Deputies, in session inside the occupied administration building, told Sky News they want a referendum on the region's sovereignty, not on joining Russia.

The council's leader insisted they have had no official contact with the Russian government so far, although they have just voted unanimously to create a foreign affairs committee, to make exactly that possible.

And he did go on to say Russian peacekeeping troops could help to secure a referendum here.

Another deputy told us joining Russia would be "like coming home", but it would not be on the ballot paper.

Outside, we were surrounded by a crowd of people, demanding to know which channel we were working for (there are deep suspicions here about Western media, and even more so Ukrainian TV).

Satisfied that we were from the Moscow bureau, and that our producer and cameraman are Russian and therefore apparently not susceptible to 'Western lies', they started showing us their passports - to prove that they are Ukrainian, not hired Russian stooges as has been claimed.

Many feel passionately about what is happening here, but by no means all dream of joining Russia.

Over and over they told us they want sovereignty and federalisation - they see Russia as potential guarantors, and protection from the fascists and extremists they believe control the government in Kiev.

Forced to choose, one woman told us, between Russia and the EU, she would of course vote for Russia, but she would prefer an autonomous region in Eastern Ukraine.

In the city centre, away from the protests around the administration building and the watchful eyes of the "self-defence" volunteers patrolling outside, we spoke to a variety of people to try to gauge opinion.

Of 20 people asked, all but one supported federalisation. Support for joining Russia is less emphatic, but still preferable to the majority over the new government in Kiev.

The Kremlin strategists seem to have assessed the mood astutely - protesters shown on state-controlled TV channels in Russia are being described as "supporters of federalism" now, not separatists or pro-Russian.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has talked several times about the appetite for federalism in Ukraine.

Of course, an autonomous, sovereign eastern Ukraine, would also be open to overtures from Moscow, and likely easily persuaded to remain within its sphere of influence.

If that region went on to join the Russian Federation in time, so be it, but if at least then would not move towards the EU, that would still be a form of victory for the Kremlin.

It's a precarious situation for the government in Kiev and there are difficult decisions ahead.

Crack down on the protests in the east and risk galvanising a broader uprising against an administration many already associate with extremists and fascists, and give Russia the pretext it needs to show Russian lives are in danger and it must act to protect them.

Accede to demands for a referendum and risk losing the east, and the country's economic backbone, to Russia's influence, and perhaps ultimately to Russia itself.

Refuse to recognise any referendum that does take place (not a successful tactic in Crimea) or hope that turnout is too low to validate it, or the self-appointed people's councils are unable to organise it - none of which are really much of a plan.

Meanwhile Russia's military continues to mass on the border - nothing for the US or Ukraine to worry about, they insisted earlier this week, which will have reassured no-one.

The protests here are not huge, but the emotions that sparked them run deep, and it is difficult to see an easy way out.

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Scotland 'Should Determine Its Own Future'

By Niall Paterson, Scotland Correspondent

Alex Salmond has used his party conference speech to urge voters north of the border to "put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands".

As the nationalist party, committed to fulfilling an 80-year pledge to gain Scotland its independence from the United Kingdom, continues to reduce the gap in the polls ahead of September's referendum, he insisted the vote is not about him.

"This referendum is not about this party, or this First Minister, or even the wider Yes campaign," he told delegates in Aberdeen.

"It's about putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.

"Our party is hugely popular, and we are currently five, 10 and 15 points ahead in polls for Westminster, Europe and Holyrood respectively.

"But a Yes vote in September is not a vote for me, or for an SNP government in 2016.

"It's a vote for a government in Scotland that the people of Scotland choose, pursuing policies the people of Scotland support."

The speech, much like the campaign, made much of the fact that Scots have voted in a way at significant variance with the overall result of recent general elections.

Mr Salmond says a Yes vote is a vote for the future of Scotland

He said: "I tell you what (the government of an independent Scotland) won't be. It won't be a government led by a party with just a single MP in Scotland.

"A government dismantling our welfare state. Determined to privatise public services.

"In an independent Scotland we can give this guarantee: The era of unelected Tory governments handing out punishment to the poor and the disabled will be gone and gone for good."

Results vary, but the Yes campaign is still significantly behind the No vote in all major polls, although the margin has narrowed in recent months.

And despite the fact the Yes campaign has yet even to come close to a majority in said polls, the SNP leader in Westminster remains upbeat, with five months of campaigning to go.

"When people are able to contrast the Yes case with the No case and understand the momentum is going in the direction of the Yes case, I'm confident we will get a Yes result," Angus Robertson MP told Sky News.

"It might surprise some people in the bunkers of Whitehall and Westminster when it does, but when they wake up they will realise this is about Scotland governing itself like so many other places have decided to do over recent decades.

"We will have excellent relations with our friends on these islands.

"But we will always have a government that we actually elect making better decisions for people who life here - regardless of where they are from."

Given their lead in the polls it's unsurprising that the Better Together camp remains positive, despite considerable media and public opinion branding their campaign negative.

Asked whether it was easier for people to enthuse about independence rather than maintaining the status quo, Lewis Macdonald, a Labour member of the Scottish Parliament, told Sky News: "It's important to say there's a lot to be enthusiastic about.

"The union has worked very, very well for many generations and it's delivered us many benefits. But this isn't about change versus the status quo. This is about devolution, the kind of change that people in Scotland have wanted for a long time.

"It's a referendum that will be decided by the judgement people make at the end of the day. I think many people have made up their minds, some still have to choose.

"My expectation is that those people who still have to make up their mind will come to the same conclusion as those who have already made up their mind.

"At the moment, and for as long as I can remember the split has basically been two to one for remaining in the UK. I expect that the undecideds will come down in much the same kind of split.

"But only time will tell."

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MH370: 'Confidence' Over Black Box Search

Searchers are "very confident" that signals detected in the hunt for missing flight MH370 are from the plane's black box, Australia's prime minister says.

Tony Abbott told reporters during a visit to China that authorities have "very much narrowed down the search area" in the southern Indian Ocean.

"We are very confident that the signals that we are detecting are from the black box," Mr Abbott said.

"Nevertheless, we're getting into the stage where the signal from what we are very confident is the black box is starting to fade.

"We are hoping to get as much information as we can before the signal finally expires."

The search is currently focused on an 18,000 square mile search area after a fifth ping was detected around 1,400 miles off Perth, in western Australia.

The signal was captured on Thursday by an Australian Air Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane, which has been dropping sonar buoys into the ocean.

Zhang Zhiliang looks at photos of his fiancee, who was on board the flight

However, Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) chief Angus Houston says an initial assessment of the latest signal indicates it is not related to an aircraft's black box.

Speaking from Perth, Sky's Nick Martin said there were "mixed messages" from Australia this morning as the hunt for the plane continued.

Mr Abbott was first quoted as saying he was confident the black box had been found, and then later said he was confident signals picked up by search teams were from a black box.

"Either he's been misquoted or he has slightly jumped the gun," said Martin.

And search teams said there had been no breakthrough yet, according to Martin.

Joint Agency Coordination Centre chief Angus Houston

Twelve military aircraft, three civil planes and 13 ships have joined the search today. The Royal Navy vessel HMS Echo is also part of the operation.

Authorities have been racing to locate the plane's data and cockpit recorders, as the ping-emitting beacons are expected to fade.

No floating debris from the Malaysia Airlines aircraft has yet been found, despite the major multinational air and sea operation.

The renewed search operation comes as Malaysia's acting transport minister admitted that mistakes were made in how authorities treated the victims' families.

Hishammuddin Hussein said the missing plane had posed an "unprecedented situation without benchmark".

The Malaysia Airlines plane went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board.

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Pistorius Accused Of 'Tailoring Evidence'

Oscar Pistorius has been accused of "tailoring his evidence" at his murder trial, where he denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel repeatedly challenged the Paralympian's "improbable" account of events while questioning him about the details of the night he shot Ms Steenkamp.

At one point the confrontation led an emotional Pistorius to admit he could be giving inconsistent answers because he was tired - prompting the judge to ask if he was able to continue with his evidence.

Pistorius told the court that his first intention when he heard a noise on February 14 was "to put myself between the intruder and Reeva" and that he reached for his gun under the bed and told Ms Steenkamp to call the police.

Mr Nel put it to him that a "reasonable person" would have done more to ensure that his partner "was okay or scared".

Pistorius said that he started screaming at the intruder to "get out of my house" and at Ms Steenkamp to call the police as he rushed down the passage to the bathroom in his home.

Mr Nel said: "The safety was off and you wanted to shoot someone. If you saw someone you were ready to shoot."

Pistorius replied: "I never wanted to shoot anyone."

The athlete said he could not explain why he had rushed toward the danger instead of taking the opportunity to escape with Ms Steenkamp through the bedroom door.

He said he kept quiet as he reached the bathroom door, telling the court: "I wanted to peer around the corner. I wasn't sure if the person was waiting for me. I was kneeling down."

He said that after hearing the toilet door slam, he was "sure" that there was an intruder in his house.

He said: "I was fighting for my life, my lady. I was not sure who was in the bathroom."

Mr Nel told Pistorius his claim that Ms Steenkamp was in the toilet but did not respond to his shouts was "the most improbable part of your story".

He said: "She was talking to you, that is why she was standing there before you shot her in the head. She was scared of you, not an intruder. She was scared of you."

Pistorius has faced a gruelling week of questions in the Pretoria court

Pistorius became emotional again when asked: "Did she scream while you shot her four times?"

Mr Nel said it was not possible for Pistorius to say that there had been no screaming, when he admitted he could not hear properly because of the sound of the gunshots.

Mr Nel also claimed the athlete was lying about an incident when he claims he was shot at while driving on a highway in 2008 or 2009, because he could not remember who he had called for help that night.

He said: "It is so improbable that you can not remember - the only reason you can not remember is that it didn't happen."

Mr Nel cast doubt on the defence's assertion that a number of items in the couple's bedroom must have been moved in the hours after the shooting.

Pistorius was given flowers by a fan outside court

Proceedings were briefly adjourned after Pistorius broke down in the witness box.

Asked why he was getting emotional, he told the prosecutor: "Because this is the night that I lost the person that I cared about. I don't understand why you can't understand it."

Pistorius was asked about security measures at his house, as the lawyer known as the "Pit Bull" sought to undermine his claims that he was concerned about crime.

Pistorius told the court he had never been a victim of crime at his Silver Woods home, apart from an occasion when he said police stole his watches.

Reeva Steenkamp's mother watches Pistorius as he gives evidence

He said security measures in the area had been upgraded several times, but he had never attended meetings of a home owners association where those issues were raised.

Mr Nel again suggested the athlete was a selfish person, raising his previous statements that Ms Steenkamp had often prayed for him and his training.

At one point, the barrister's combative approach earned him a reprimand from judge Thokozile Masipa, who warned him, "mind your language" after he called Pistorius a liar.

Mr Nel has sought to dismantle the Paralympian's heroic life story and portray him as self-centred, short-tempered, gun-obsessed and eager to shirk responsibility for his actions.

Pistorius denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition in relation to Ms Steenkamp's death.

He also denies two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in separate incidents prior to the killing.

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Man Who Incinerated Wife's Body Jailed For Life

A bank worker who murdered his wife and burned her body after she threatened to expose his homosexuality has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.

Jasvir Ginday stared down at the floor as he was told his decision to throttle Varkha Rani and set fire to her remains in a home incinerator in his back garden was "unbelievably casual and callous".

He carried out the crime just months after they tied the knot to cover up his homosexuality, which his 24-year-old bride had been threatening to reveal to friends and family.

A jury of seven women and five men took around 17 hours to find him guilty of murder after a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Ginday initially told police that his Indian wife had packed her bags and walked out on him following a row at their home in Victory Lane, Walsall, West Midlands.

Jasvir Ginday and Varkha Rani on their wedding day

The 29-year-old claimed throughout his trial that he had accidentally killed Ms Rani while restraining her with a vacuum cleaner hose. 

But the jury believed the prosecution's case that the Royal Bank of Scotland employee had planned the killing of his wife, who had only been in the country for about a month.

In 2008, Ginday had confided in a friend that he was attracted to men but could not tell his family as his mother was very strict.

It later emerged that he was frequenting gay bars and having relationships with men around the time of his engagement to Ms Rani in 2012.

The following year, after his new wife arrived from India, the pair moved into a house with his parents.

The court heard that on the morning of the crime, on September 12, he was caught on camera filling a two litre bottle with petrol at a service station.

Later that day, while the rest of the family were out, Ginday claimed that his wife had attacked him and run off with £500.

The family told police who, the following day, carried out a full search of the house and garden where they found the incinerator which was still emitting smoke.

A police officer lifted the lid off the metal bin to discover the gruesome remains of a human skull.

Ginday's back garden and the incinerator in which Ms Rani's body was burnt

An unburned black plastic bin liner was found partially covering her body. A ring was also found in the incinerator which bore the inscription "V and G 2013" - Ms Rani's wedding band.

Her cousin Sunil Kumar said: "No words can truly express the sadness and hurt my family and I are experiencing at the loss of Varkha, she was loved dearly by all, she had a great passion for life and doted on her family.

"Varkha attained a masters degree and was driven to make her life a success, unfortunately she fell prey to Ginday who had ulterior motives which Varkha would not have appreciated."

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal said: "Ginday got married as a matter of convenience - he tricked a poor innocent girl into marriage but was living a lie.

"When she uncovered the truth he could not live with it and killed her quickly then tried to dispose of her body and her possessions by burning them.

"Had another day passed before police attended, Ginday may well have successfully removed all traces of Varkha.

"I hope that this verdict brings some comfort to Varkha's family who have travelled from India to see justice is brought for their daughter."

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Missing Three-Year-Old Girl Found Alive

A three-year-old girl who vanished from her bed overnight has been found alive and well.

Police feared Chloe Campbell had been snatched from her home in Childers, Queensland, after her father discovered her missing on Thursday morning.

It is understood that she walked back to the house at around 1am local time (4pm UK time) and was reunited with her mother. She has now been taken to a nearby hospital to undergo checks.

Her father, Garth Campbell,  had said Chloe, who normally sleeps in the living room, had vanished along with her sleeping bag and stuffed, blue toy dog.

He had said a window was open and that there was an adult-sized footprint on the family's car outside.

"I don't think there's any possible way she's wandered off," he said.

"She wouldn't leave the yard by herself."

He added that the family would normally have closed the windows at night, but that one of the latches must have failed to lock properly.

"That's why we are blaming ourselves," he said.

More follows...

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Nigel Evans Prosecution 'Was Great Tragedy'

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Friends of the former deputy speaker Nigel Evans have questioned the decision to prosecute the MP on charges of rape and sexual assault.

After a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court, the politician has been cleared on all charges.

Evans, 56, is regarded by many colleagues as one of the most popular MPs in Westminster. 

He was arrested after police turned up at his constituency home in Lancashire early one morning in May 2013.

A student who had stayed at Mr Evans' address several days earlier claimed he had been raped by the politician. 

From the outset the MP said the young man had consented to sex.

In relation to accusations of indecent or sexual assault from another six men, he insisted either that they did not happen or that he had misinterpreted signals from the alleged victims.

Lembit Opik said the situation was a 'great tragedy'

Despite the charges, friends said even before Mr Evans was cleared that they would stand by the MP.

Former MP Lembit Opik told Sky News: "I'm not a judge and I'm not a lawyer but I'm a human being and so is Nigel Evans and the great tragedy in this situation is, not withstanding the outcome of the case, he's been punished for two years.

"He's lost his job when he wasn't even found guilty of anything and we've really got to ask ourselves where is this country going if that's regarded as justice."

Mr Evans was a vice chairman of the Conservative Party and was promoted to the shadow cabinet after Iain Duncan Smith became party leader in 2001. 

He was one of three deputy speakers elected in a secret ballot of MPs in 2010. 

The politician is now openly gay, but he kept it a secret for most of his life, only coming out in 2010 after his mother died.

The prosecution in his trial had claimed that the MP "often when in drink, pressed his sexual attentions on younger men, on occasions using or trading on his position of influence."

Mr Evans had been arrested in his Ribble Valley constituency

Barrister Mark Heywood QC said that the defendant's behaviour had become more and more serious.

He told the court: "He not only abused those young men, in some instances very seriously so, but he abused the positions he held."

But the defence argued successfully that jurors could not rule out the possibility that some form of collusion had taken place between some of the complainants. 

The judge in the case, Mr Justice King, said in his summary that there was a "real possibility" that one of the alleged victims had put up some of the others to bolster his own account.

Many current and former MPs have come forward in support of Mr Evans.

His London flatmate, Conservative MP Brian Binley, told Sky News: "He is a congenial man and enjoys a drink, enjoys a glass of wine. He's also a tactile man as many of us are. And sometimes that can be misconstrued."

Novelist and former MP Edwina Currie has known Mr Evans for more than 30 years. 

Edwina Currie said she hoped Mr Evans could 'move on'

Asked if she thought he would still be able to pursue his dream of becoming speaker of the House, she replied:  "I don't think it's appropriate to start thinking you can go back to exactly where you were. 

"You obviously can't after all of the trauma and the emotional pain of being faced by people you thought were your friends. 

"Nigel will need to move on after all of this and I certainly hope he does."

Mr Evans has much support in his Ribble Valley constituency.

Christine Dilworth is a friend and landlady of the pub adjoining his cottage in Pendleton. She said:  "We were most shocked for one morning police just to appear on your doorstep and take him off not knowing what for or anything.

"Basically, by being such a kind, open person, which he is, I think has been his downfall.

"His door was always open in the village when he was at home - always. Anybody passing would call in it was always an open house."

When he resigned as deputy speaker following his arrest, the MP quoted Winston Churchill, saying: "When you are going through hell keep going." 

Finally, he can start to leave the hell of this case behind.

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'If Reeva Had Spoken I Would Not Have Fired'

Oscar Pistorius has told a court he fired his weapon "by accident" after hearing a noise in his bathroom and thinking he was about to be attacked by an intruder.

The court in Pretoria heard the athlete say he fired four shots in quick succession after hearing someone inside the bathroom.

Fighting back tears, the 27-year-old said: "When I heard a noise, I didn't have time to think and I fired my weapon. It was an accident.

"If Reeva had come out or she had spoken to me I wouldn't have fired. The noise coming from the bathroom made me pull the trigger."

Pistorius had been in a relationship with Reeva Steenkamp for four months

During a second day of cross-examination, prosecutor Gerrie Nel claimed Pistorius' version of events on the night of February 13 last year "is a lie" and the barrister accused him of "adapting" events to suit his account.

The double amputee recounted waking up during the night and getting out of bed to close the doors to a balcony, shut the curtains and move fans into the room.

Miss Steenkamp is then thought to have got out of bed, but the athlete said he was unable to see her because he had his back turned and the room was dark.

Pistorius also said a duvet and fan in images shown to the court had been moved by police officers after Miss Steenkamp's death.

Mr Nel portrayed him as selfish and prone to tantrums during the couple's four-month relationship. He also questioned him about text messages sent by Miss Steenkamp which claimed she was "scared" of his reactions.

Text messages between the couple have been shown in court

He read from one message which said: "'I've been upset with you for two days now... I'm scared of you sometimes'. Why would she be scared of you?"

Pistorius replied: "I think she's scared of the feelings that she had for me, she says 'I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and how you will react to me'.

"I never shouted or screamed at her. It hurt her feelings about the way I would react."

Mr Nel accused the athlete of "picking on" Miss Steenkamp, claimed Pistorius "did not care enough" to tell Miss Steenkamp he loved her and insisted their relationship was focused on "me, Oscar".

The athlete also told the court he was "terribly sorry" he had taken his girlfriend's life after he was asked why he had not apologised in person to her family.

He said: "I am terribly sorry that I took the life of their daughter. I didn't think they would want to see me."

Pistorius was accused of blaming his legal team for not questioning claims made by witnesses and was asked a series of questions over his handling of firearms and ammunition.

He has admitted a handgun went off in a restaurant while in his possession, and told the court he carried his gun everywhere and usually had a bullet in the chamber.

The court heard Pistorius had ammunition belonging to his father in the safe at his home, for which he did not have a licence. He also had an extra magazine in his bedside drawer, which was found when he was arrested, and usually carried his gun with him at all times for safety reasons.

Pistorius denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in separate incidents prior to the killing.

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British Nuclear Sub Joins Missing Plane Hunt

The nuclear submarine HMS Tireless is on its way to the area where possible signals from the black box recorder of the missing flight MH370 have been detected, Sky sources say.

The ship HMS Echo arrived in the search zone in the Indian Ocean a few hours ago and will help the Australian naval ship Ocean Shield, which detected four previous pings, and Haixun 01, a Chinese ship.

After dropping sound-locating buoys into the ocean, an Australian Navy P-3 Orion aircraft detected another potential signal on Thursday afternoon in the same area pings were heard on Saturday.

Angus Houston, who is in charge of the operation, confirmed the surveillance plane had picked up the "possible signal".

A map showing the two of the search areas

"The acoustic data will require further analysis overnight but shows potential of being from a made-made source," he said.

If confirmed, it will be the fifth signal to have been recorded by search teams, following on from detections on Tuesday and Saturday that have allowed search teams to narrow down the area they are looking in.

They are searching an area of the southern Indian Ocean 1,670km (1,040 miles) from Perth after the plane went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.

The Haixun 01 vessel initially reported some acoustic signals south of where the Ocean Shield sounds were detected on Saturday.

The first four pings were heard in the smaller zone being searched

But the signals heard by the Chinese ship were not believed to have occurred again.

The Australian Navy has been dropping the buoys in a pattern across the area where the Ocean Shield heard the pings.

Attached to each is a hydrophone listening device which dangles about 300m (1,000ft) below the surface.

Search aircraft, like the Orion, undertook at least 30 flights on Thursday

Australian Navy Commodore Peter Leavy said the hope was that the buoys would be able to pinpoint the source of the signals.

But experts say time is running out as pingers on black boxes are designed to emit signals for no more than 30 days.

Hopes that they may be tracked down in time rose on Thursday after an Australian government document circulated among agencies involved in the search said the pingers could continue for up to 10 more days.

Mr Houston on Wednesday expressed "optimism" about the ongoing search operation.

ADV Ocean Shield is towing a "Pinger Locator"

"I'm now optimistic that we will find the aircraft, or what is left of the aircraft, in the not too distant future," he said.

"But we haven't found it yet, because this is a very challenging business."

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Nigel Evans MP Weeps As Cleared Of Sex Charges

Former deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans has been found not guilty of all nine sex charges against him.

The 56-yearold had been accused of one count of rape, four count of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault and two counts of indecent assault.

Mr Evans, who is also MP for Ribble Valley, wept after the verdicts were handed down by the jury at the end of a five-week trial at Preston Crown Court.

The charges related to offences against seven men, said to have been carried out between 2003 and 2013. 

Friends of Mr Evans cheered as the last of the not guilty verdicts was read out by the foreman of the jury, which had deliberated for five hours and 45 minutes.

Among those who were present to support the MP was Coronation Street star Vicky Entwhistle, who was also seen in tears.

Speaking on the steps of the court after the verdict, Mr Evans said: "As many of you know, I've gone through 11 months of hell.

"I've not been alone. Many have walked with me, including my team at Clitheroe and Westminster ... Many people I don't even know have sent messages of support.

Nigel Evans leaves the court after being found not guilty

"In my darkest and loneliest times, there were only two or one set of foot steps in the sand, and ... they weren't mine.

"I've got work to do. It's the work that I have done for the last 22 years, so this isn't a time for celebration or euphoria."

While speaking, he referred to comments made by Coronation Street star Bill Roache who was cleared on sex offences at the same court a month ago.

Mr Roache, who was also prosecuted by authorities in Lancashire, said there were "no winners" in situations like his.

Mr Evans said: "That's absolutely right. There are no winners ... so no celebrations.

"All I can say is that after the last 11 months I've gone through, nothing will ever be the same again."

Mr Evans had consistently denied the charges and has insisted that the alleged rape of a 22-year-old university student had been consensual sex.

Friends of Mr Evans have told Sky News he does not want his old job back

Mr Evans was also accused of indecently assaulting two men in their 20s in 2003 when he approached them in public places while drunk.

A 23-year-old, meanwhile, said he was sexually assaulted while sleeping on Mr Evans' sofa at the MP's Lancashire home in July 2009.

Evans admitted he had made a pass and apologised to the young man after he was hauled into the Conservative whips' office but the jury was told the allegation "gathered a momentum of its own" after the man mentioned the incident to another MP.

The man was accused of embellishing his story when police became involved but two of his close friends bolstered his allegation by coming forward to say they too had been sexually assaulted.

But the failure of the prosecution to deliver a guilty verdict, raises questions over yet another sex offences trial that has ended in a not guilty verdict.

Mark Pritchard MP was one of those who responded quickly on Twitter to the verdict. He tweeted: "Nigel Evans cleared on all counts. Lancashire Police and Crown Prosecution Service have some serious questions to answer."

Mr Evans was a Conservative MP before he was elected in 2010 as one of three deputy speakers, a politically neutral role.

He stepped down as a deputy speaker last September after he was charged with the offences.

He has not returned to the Conservatives and represents his constituents as an independent.

Sources have told Sky News he does not want his job as deputy speaker back.

A source within government said: "Nigel Evans has never expected or wanted to get his job back as Deputy Speaker - he's with the rest of the party in believing that his replacement, Eleanor Laing is doing a good job."

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Twenty Students Stabbed Outside High School

A suspect has been taken into custody after 20 students were stabbed at a high school near Pittsburgh.

Dan Stevens, emergency management spokesman at Westmoreland County, said four people were thought to have been seriously injured when a student with a knife stabbed or slashed others.

The attack took place at around 7.20am at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, around 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Several helicopters were seen flying injured people to nearby hospitals.

Dr Chris Kaufman, at Forbes Regional Medical Center, said two of the victims were undergoing surgery and another also suffered life-threatening injuries. They are expected to survive.

All three of them were stabbed in the torso, abdomen, chest, or back.

Mr Stevens said some of those injured suffered cuts and scrapes as they attempted to flee the scene.

Twelve victims have been sent to four different hospitals.

The school posted on its website: "A critical incident has occurred at the high school.

"All elementary schools are cancelled, the middle school and high school students are secure."

The suspect, a male student, was taken into custody and is being questioned.

The high school was locked down and students were kept there as officials double-checked the premises.

One student told the television WTAE he saw "students holding their stomachs, bleeding."

The student added they are not sure how the assailant was stopped, but a fire alarm was activated and "as soon as we heard the fire alarm was pulled we went outside".

Morris Hundley said his 14-year-old daughter Morriah called him in tears. He rushed to the school still wearing his slippers, hoping for more information.

"My first thoughts were I think we need to home school now that this has happened," he said.

"The words can't describe how I feel. I'm just thinking of the victims."

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Pistorius: Angry Clashes Over Grisly Photo

Oscar Pistorius was repeatedly branded a liar today amid angry clashes with a prosecutor over a gruesome picture of Reeva Steenkamp's bloodied head.

Pistorius raised his voice and refused to look at the photograph after barrister Gerrie Nel said Reeva's head had "exploded like a watermelon".

As Pistorius sobbed in the dock, Mr Nel referred to a Sky News video showing Pistorius shooting and hitting a watermelon on a firing range.

Pistorius arrives for the trial today

"You know that the same happened to Reeva's head - it exploded," Mr Nel said.

There were gasps in court and some in the public gallery were forced to leave as a picture of Reeva's wounded head was beamed on screens across the courtroom.

As the picture was shown in court, the barrister continued: "Have a look. I know you don't want to because you don't want to take responsibility. Take a look."

Appearing to lose his composure, Pistorius replied: "I will not look at a picture. I touched her head that night. I know how it felt.

A photograph of Reeva Steenkamp with a head injury was shown to the court

"I am taking responsibility, by standing here today - I am not looking at that picture."

The photograph showed a side view of Miss Steenkamp's bloodied head, with her eyes closed.

Mr Nel said: "It's time that you look at it."

Judge Thokozile Masipais eventually asked for the picture to be taken down and ruled that the line of questioning was inappropriate, as Pistorius was forced to take a break.

Earlier, Pistorius shook in the dock as Mr Nel asked: "You killed Reeva Steenkamp, didn't you?"

Pistorius said: "I did, I made a terrible mistake."

Mr Nel replied: "Won't you take responsibility? Take responsibility - say 'I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp'."

Again and again, Mr Nel accused Pistorius of lying to the court, something the athlete repeatedly denied.

During one heated exchange Mr Nel said: "But Reeva does not have a life any more because of what you have done.

"So please tell the truth, rather than think of the implications for you."

On another occasion, as Mr Nel grew more impatient, Pistorius sobbed: "I am fighting for my life."

Pistorius began today's evidence by describing how he carried the model down the stairs of his home after finding her slumped on the toilet.

"She was sitting with her weight on top of the toilet bowl. I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn't," he told the court.

June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, watches today's proceedings

"I pulled her weight on to me and I sat there crying for some time. I felt her head on my shoulder and I could feel the blood running down me. 

"I thought I felt her breathing. I could see her arm was broken.

"I was trying to pick Reeva up. I could see she was still breathing. She was struggling to breathe." 

Pistorius said that he rang 911 and also security - but did not remember either call clearly.

"After I got off the phone with 911, I ran downstairs to open the front door. I could barely pick Reeva up. I opened the front door," he said.

Pistorius said Miss Steenkamp died in his arms

"I ran back up to my room. I went back to the bathroom and tried to pick up Reeva.

"I got to the second flight of stairs. I was shouting and screaming for help in getting her to the hospital."

Pistorius said he was told to put Miss Steenkamp down as neighbours said an ambulance was on its way.

"I just sat there and waited for the ambulance to arrive," he said.

"I had my fingers in her mouth to help her breathe. I had my hand on her hip to try and stop the bleeding.

"Reeva had already died when I was holding her so I knew there was nothing the ambulance could do.

Pistorius has broken down several times since the start of the trial

"Then the paramedic came to me and said she would like to inform me that Reeva had passed.

"The paramedic asked me if there was some form of ID. I went to get Reeva's handbag."

Pistorius said that police officers then arrived and checked the house to see if anyone else was there.

"I asked the policeman if I could wash my hands because the smell of the blood was making me throw up. I washed my hands and face," he said.

The athlete was later taken to the police station and arrested over the death. Afterwards he was taken to hospital where doctors conducted tests on him.

Sky's Alex Crawford and Jeremy Thompson with a South African newspaper

Asked by his barrister whether he intended to kill his girlfriend, Pistorius responded: "I did not intend to kill Reeva or anyone else for that matter." 

Later, under cross examination, Pistorius was asked about what he meant by "accidently" firing his gun at the toilet door.

"Did your gun go off accidently, yes or no, just answer the question?" Mr Nel said.

Again raising his voice, Pistorius replied: "When I fired my firearm I believed someone was coming out of the bathroom to attack me.

"I thought someone was coming out to attack me." 

Mr Nel asked: "Why are you emotional now the questions are difficult?", to which Pistorius answered: "My life is on the line."

For the second time, Judge Masipais jumped in to stop Mr Nel, explaining that it was unfair to imply that Pistorius had intentionally become emotional. 

Pistorius denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in separate incidents prior to the killing.

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PC Blakelock Murder Accused Not Guilty

The man accused of stabbing PC Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Tottenham riots has been found not guilty of murder.

Nicky Jacobs, who was 16 at the time of the attack, had maintained his innocence throughout.

There were cheers from the public gallery as the verdicts were returned by a jury, who took just six hours to clear the 45-year-old with a majority of 10-2.

PC Blakelock, 40, was killed by an armed mob at the height of the riots at the Broadwater Farm estate 1985.

Estates were devastated during the riots

He was among a group of officers sent out without cover on the night of Sunday October 6, 1985 to protect firemen tackling fires.

Mr Jacobs stood up and punched the air as he was cleared, before breaking down in tears.

Those supporting him in the public gallery included Winston Silcott, whose conviction for the murder of PC Blakelock was quashed in 1991.

Mr Silcott shouted "Yeah, yeah" and "Brother, brother" from the gallery. Once outside he told reporters: "The police are bitter about what happened, that's why they brought this case.

"Vengeance, that's what the police were out to get."

Winston Silcott at the Old Bailey

PC Blakelock's family, who were in court, have said they are "extremely sad and disappointed at the verdict".

Police have justified pursuing Mr Jacobs almost three decades after the riots in north London and pledged to continue to seek justice for PC Blakelock's death.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "No matter how difficult an investigation it has been to carry out - given the many years that have passed, the lack of forensic evidence and CCTV, plus the main witnesses to Keith murder's being those taking part in the riot - it was important we exhausted every possible lead we could.

"Sadly, Keith's widow, family and friends still have not seen anyone brought to justice for his murder. The dignity, extraordinary patience and courage they have shown in their nearly 30-year quest for justice is humbling.

"We will not give up on bringing Keith's killers to justice.

PC Keith Blakelock's widow, Elizabeth Johnson

"There are people who know exactly who took part in the attack on Keith and people who took part themselves. It is not too late for you to come forward. Almost 30 years on people's lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted. Help us now."

The Crown Prosecution Service also insisted "it was right" to bring a case because "there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it was in the public interest". 

The trial heard from three anonymous witnesses who claimed to have seen Mr Jacobs take part in the killing.

During investigations into the attack on PC Blakelock a decision was made to give immunity to so-called "kickers" - those who were involved in the attack but did not use weapons.

Police made numerous arrests at the time

In exchange they would cooperate with prosecutions, and the jury was told that some witnesses received payments.

Detective Superintendent John Sweeney, who led the investigation for 14 years, insisted: "No-one has been rewarded for this trial."

The defendant had also written a rap poem during his time in a juvenile detention centre in which he boasted about "chopping" at the officer.

Defending, Courtenay Griffiths QC said: "Bob Marley wrote I Shot The Sheriff but I have not heard of him being put on trial for murder."

Stafford Scott, from the Tottenham Rights Group, said the police should now close the case.

"This time around we've been given justice. We hope this puts an end to the case," Mr Scott said outside court.

"We feel sorry for the family of PC Blakelock but they shouldn't have been drawn through this because this case should never have happened.

Stafford Scott from the Tottenham Rights Group

"They've investigated this for 10 years and we've seen a jury release Nicky Jacobs in less than seven hours.

"I think that for the police this really is the end of the route."

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Maria Miller Resigns As Culture Secretary

Maria Miller has been warned accepting a £17,000 pay-off would be a "further insult" to the taxpayer and she should turn it down.

The former Culture Secretary is entitled to three months' pay on leaving her post under law, however, she can refuse the amount.

The sum is significantly more than the £5,800 she has been ordered to repay in wrongly-claimed expenses and the Labour MP John Mann has said that given her conduct the payment would be "inappropriate".

Mrs Miller resigned this morning after a week of mounting pressure following an investigation into the expenses claims she made for a second home.

Mr Mann, who made the initial complaint about her allowances claims, said: "It is a ridiculous and outdated practice to pay off ministers when they return to the backbenches.

"In light of Maria Miller's conduct, it would now be inappropriate for her to claim severance pay following her resignation. For her to accept a payoff would be a further insult to the taxpayer."

Mrs Miller has insisted she was not pushed from her role as Culture Secretary but had to go because the scandal over her expenses was becoming a "distraction".

Maria Miller's 32-second apology in the Commons was incendiary

In an interview after her resignation, a clearly upset Mrs Miller said she took "full responsibility" for her decision to step down.

She said: "This has been a really difficult 16 months. Because I was cleared of the central allegation made about me by a Labour Member of Parliament, I hoped that I could stay. But it has become clear to me in recent days that it has become an enormous distraction.

"It is not right that I am distracting from the incredible achievements of this Government."

She denied she thought there had been a "witch-hunt" against her because of her role overseeing the reforms on press freedom suggested in the Leveson report, as had been claimed by her aide on Tuesday.

Asked if she was sorry, she replied: "I have made it clear and apologised unreservedly to the House of Commons and made sure that it was clear to everybody that I took full responsibility for those findings.

"I want to make that the situation is clear to everybody and make sure that I can move on."

In her resignation letter to David Cameron, Mrs Miller, 48, told him she was "very grateful" for his personal support during the growing row over her expenses.

Mr Cameron repeatedly backed his Culture Secretary

Mr Cameron, who consistently offered public support for his minister, said he was saddened by her departure but hoped the Basingstoke MP could make a return "in due course".

Mrs Miller finally stepped down six days after she was forced to apologise in the House of Commons for her attitude to an inquiry into the allowance claimed on her second home.

The Prime Minister had been under pressure in recent days to sack her from Tory activists and MPs, and Mrs Miller's position had become untenable.

Following criticism over his handling of the case from both Tory and Labour MPs Mr Cameron robustly defended his actions at Prime Minister's Questions.

When Labour leader Ed Miliband asked him what he had learned from the situation, he said: "I hope that one lesson that won't be learned is that the right thing to do as soon as someone has to answer allegations is just to instantly remove them, rather than give them a chance to clear their name and get on with their job.

"If people clear themselves of a serious offence, you let them get on with their job, you let them try to do their job. That is actually the right thing to do.

The second home at the centre of the row

"Firing someone at the first sign of trouble ... that is not actually leadership, that is weakness."

Mrs Miller's camp had, on Tuesday night, attempted a fightback after days of newspaper headlines and the faltering support for her from within Government.

Her aide, Mary Macleod, appeared on Sky News to claim she was a victim of a witch-hunt because she was dealing with press reforms recommended in the Leveson report. She had sent a text to MPs attempting to garner support for Mrs Miller.

She also claimed that Mrs Miller was unpopular because she was responsible for steering through the legislation on gay marriage.

In her resignation letter Mrs Miller said: "Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking scandals, would always be controversial for the press.

"Working together with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of press intrusion, to have a clear right of redress."

Mr Cameron has announced that Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove, is to become the new Culture Secretary.

Nicky Morgan will replace him as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Andrea Leadsom will become Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Mrs Miller's departure leaves three women in the Cabinet: Home Secretary Theresa May, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, and International Development Secretary Justine Greening. Baroness Warsi sits in the Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio as is Ms Morgan, in her role.

Conservatives in Mrs Miller's constituency voiced disappointment at her departure.

Stephen Marks, a Conservative councillor on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: "She did Leveson on press complaints and I feel the press were going to get their own back on her. I am saddened that she had to resign, but that is the way it is."

Mrs Miller issued a much-derided 32-second apology on Thursday after Parliament's sleaze watchdog upbraided her for her attitude to an expenses inquiry into claims for a second home.

She was also ordered to pay back £5,800 of wrongly-claimed allowances on the house in Wimbledon, southwest London, which she sold for a £1.2m profit in February.

However, it emerged that the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards had found that Mrs Miller should have paid back £45,000 in expenses claimed on the home but this was overruled by the Standards Committee of 10 MPs and three independent members, who do not have a vote.

It led to calls for an end to a system where MPs are allowed to police their own expenses, with the head of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Sir Ian Kennedy, saying they should not "mark their own homework".

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Oscar Pistorius Describes Night Of Shooting

Oscar Pistorius broke down in court today as he described shooting dead his girlfriend thinking she was an intruder.

In dramatic scenes, Pistorius described finding his girlfriend's body in the toilet of his home - wailing in court: "She was everything."

Pistorius leaves the court after the evidence today

His sister Aimee and one of his lawyers then rushed through the courtroom to his side - before the judge was forced to halt proceedings.

The athlete's emotional breakdown failed to move June Steenkamp, Reeva's mother, who stared, stony-faced at the defendant, as he was consoled by family and friends.

Sky's Alex Crawford, who was at the court, described the wailing as "like animal sounds" coming from the athlete.   

"He was consoled by his sister, but he continued making these loud wailing noises - it was very emotional," Crawford said.

Earlier, the athlete took his prosthetic legs off in court to to relive the moments leading to, during and after the shooting on Valentine's Day last year. 

He described how he begged Reeva to call the police and grabbed his gun in the darkness after thinking he had heard an intruder in the bathroom of his home.

He told the court that just hours before he shot Reeva dead she had been doing yoga at the foot of his bed, stopping from time to time to kiss him affectionately.

Pistorius recounted the events of the evening in fine detail as he sought to persuade the judge that Reeva's death was a terrible mistake.

Arnold Pistorius, Oscar's uncle, wipes away tears during today's evidence

He began by explaining how Reeva had cooked him dinner and the pair ate about 7pm.

After dinner they sat at the dining room table and "chatted about our days".

"Just before 8pm I came into my room and I opened the balcony doors - it was very humid," he told the court.

"I drew the curtains around the fans. They were blackout curtains.

"At that point Reeva came into the room and I took my drink and I put it down on the bedside table.

"I locked the bedroom door and I put the cricket bat about 2cm from the door. I put the cricket bat on the floor so the door would be blocked by the cricket bat.

"I took my prosthetic legs off, so they could air. I put them as close to the door as I could. I climbed onto the bed.

"Reeva jumped on the bed and we were chatting. I was texting my cousin - Reeva was on a social media application. She was showing me pictures of cars and things that she liked."

Pistorius then called his cousin and Reeva got out of bed and started doing yoga at the foot of the bed. 

"Every now and then, Reeva would get up and give me a kiss. Reeva then walked to the bathroom," Pistorius said.

"She called me to come and brush my teeth. She went back to the bedroom. When I came back she was lying in the middle of the bed."

Pistorius said that he fell asleep between 9 and 10pm.

His voice quaking, Pistorius continued: "I woke up in the early hours of February 14.

June Steenkamp sits stony-faced through today's evidence

"It was extremely warm. I sat up in bed. I noticed that the fans were still running and the door was still open. Reeva was still awake. She rolled over to me and said 'Can't you sleep my baba?'.

"I said 'no I can't, not tonight'."

Pistorius said he then locked the sliding doors of the room.

"I came into the room. The only bit of light was a little LED light. I could see a pair of jeans on the floor. I picked them up and was going to place them over the lights.

"At this point I heard a window open in the bathroom.

"My lady, that's the moment everything changed. I thought there was a burglar gaining entry into my home.

"I think initially I just froze. I heard a noise and I interpreted it as someone climbing into the bathroom.

Aimee Pistorius, Oscar's sister breaks down in court

"I immediately thought someone could be there any moment and the first thing that ran through my mind was that I needed to arm myself, to protect Reeva and I - that I needed to get my gun."

Pistorius continued: "I ran and grabbed my firearm. When I got before the passage wall, I was scared that the person could have been in a closet space.

"I had my firearm extended in front of me. I whispered to Reeva to get down and phone the police.

"I was overcome by fear. I screamed at the person to get out. I screamed at Reeva. I was constantly aware this person could come at me at any time. I did not have my legs on. Just before I got to the bathroom, I stopped shouting."

At this point, the court was adjourned for five minutes for Pistorius to remove his prosthetic legs and demonstrate the difficulty he had moving without them.

He went on: "I heard the toilet door slam. It confirmed there was someone inside the bathroom at that time.

"I thought the intruders were going to come out, or were in the bathroom. I was not screaming or shouting at that time.

"I approached this entrance to the bathroom. I was walking with my left hand to the closets. I had my pistol in my right hand. I peered into the bathroom. 

A bucket was placed in the dock in case Pistorius was sick again

"I was not able to walk with as much mobility on the tiled surfaces. I had my pistol raised to my eye.

"There were no lights in the bathroom. As I slowly peered into the bathroom I could see the window was open.

"I had my back against the wall, using my hand as balance, scuffling along the left hand side wall.

"I wasn't sure if the people were in the toilets or on a ladder they had used to gain access or around the corner at that point.

"I saw there was no-one around the corner waiting to attack me. At this point I started screaming for Reeva to call the police. I stood there for some time - I'm not sure for how long.

"I wasn't sure if someone was going to come out of the toilet to shoot me, or off the ladder and attack me.

"Then I heard a noise from inside the toilet which I perceived to be someone coming out of the toilet and before I knew it I had fired four shots at the door. My ears were ringing. I could not hear anything.

Oscar Pistorius arrives at court today

"I kept on screaming for Reeva to call police. I shouted for Reeva. At some point I decided to walk back to the room. 

"At this point it had not occurred to me that it could be Reeva. I was talking to Reeva but no-one was talking to me." 

Pistorius began sobbing as he said: "I got on the bed and put my hand down. I could not feel anything. At that point I thought maybe she had got down on the floor like I had told her to.

"It was at that point it dawned on me it could be Reeva. I made way back up the passage. I was mixed with emotions.

"I did not want to believe it could be Reeva inside the toilet. I was panicked. I was screaming and shouting the whole time and crying out.

"I have never screamed or cried like this before. I was crying out for Reeva. I was crying for the Lord to help me.

"I ran back to the bathroom door. I hit it with the cricket bat. At that point I wanted to just look inside and see if it was Reeva.

Oscar Pistorius wept in court yesterday before giving evidence

"I tried to open the door from the inside. I flung the door open and I sat over Reeva and I cried. I don't know how long I was there for."

Pistorius then began crying uncontrollably as he wailed: "She was everything." 

Earlier in his evidence, Pistorius said he had bought Reeva a bracelet from a designer that she liked for Valentine's Day, which he planned to give her.

He said that Reeva had wrapped a present for him on the evening of the shooting but he was told he was only allowed to open it the following day.

"On August 8 last year, on Reeva's birthday, I opened it, it was a photo frame, with four photos of her and I and the card that she wrote....," he sobbed.

Aimee Pistorius consoled the athlete after he broke down

Pistorius was too upset to continue with the description.   

Earlier, the 27-year-old was "dripping with tears" as he described the start of their relationship and read out a series of instant messaging texts. 

In one of the texts read out in court by Pistorius, Reeva denies being a "flirt" and in another she denies being a "stripper and a ho".

Reeva also sent Pistorius a message saying: "I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me and how you will act towards me."

In a reply to Reeva, Pistorius admitted to feeling "jealous and insecure".

Describing a fight at an engagement party he told the court: "I just think it was a bad hour in our relationship."

The athlete's voice faltered as he read a series of loving messages where they traded affectionate pet names.

Pistorius said meeting Reeva Steenkamp was a 'blessing'

The pet names included "amazballs", "baba", "boo", "angel" and "babycakes".

One text from Reeva to Pistorius read: "I only have eyes for you." In another she wrote: "I want to kiss you and feel your arms around my neck."

He denies premeditated murder and illegally possessing ammunition and two further counts related to shooting a gun in public in separate incidents prior to the killing.

Yesterday, Pistorius slumped on the floor of the dock after testifying for most of the day, unable to continue because he was too exhausted.

He wept and trembled his way through his first day of defence evidence, describing how panic attacks had left him hiding in cupboards since the shooting.

The court is sitting for its 18th day in the trial

He  told the court he woke "smelling blood", was unable to sleep and was on anti-depressants and sedatives.  

Yesterday morning, Pistorius cried as he turned towards Reeva's mother June and apologised for all the hurt he had caused her.

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