Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – With less than three weeks before a global television audience witnesses the start of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, perhaps the most sensational murder trial since that of former American sports star O.J. Simpson about 20 years ago, a vital piece of evidence has yet to be analyzed.
The cellphone that was recovered from Pistorius, the South African paralympian, shortly after he shot dead his model girlfriend, is in the possession of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
It is believed the iPhone contains vital evidence, but Pistorius claims he has forgotten the password and South African investigators want phone manufacturer Apple to help analyze encrypted data on the phone.
The FBI, which is acting as the facilitator, said it is waiting for the original court documents requesting the encryption before it contacts the California-based company.
On 14 Feb. last year, Pistorius shot dead 29-year-old Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home in a case that has generated worldwide interest.
He denies the charge of murder and says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.
At least 107 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.
They include residents of the Silver Woods estate in Pretoria, where Pistorius lived, medical experts, a weather forecaster, paramedics and ballistic and forensic experts.
