Witness claims Pistorius asked friend to take blame for restaurant gunshot incident

A witness had reportedly testified on the third day of the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius that the Paralympic sprinter had asked a friend to take the blame for a gun incident, which took place a month before the Valentine's Day murder of model Reeva Steenkamp.

The testimony by boxer Kevin Lerena relates to firearms charges against Pistorius, and raises questions about the character of the Blade Runner, who insists he accidentally shot dead Steenkamp in his home instead of intentionally, as alleged by prosecutors.

According to Telegraph.com.au, Lerena said the restaurant shooting happened when he, Pistorius and two other friends were in a restaurant in the swank Melrose Arch area of Johannesburg in January 2013.

Lerena further said that one of their friends passed his gun to Pistorius under the table and told him that there was a bullet in the chamber, following which a shot went off, adding that his (Lerena's) toe was grazed in the incident.

After apologizing for the incident, Lerena said that Pistorius asked the friend to take the blame for the gun shot, as he did not want any 'tension' around him because of the 'media hype'.

Pistorius, who is also charged with three other offences: two relating to the shooting of a gun in public and another count of illegal possession of ammunition, has pleaded not guilty to all four charges, the report added.