You’d be forgiven for thinking that during this long and protracted legal battle you’d heard from anyone and everyone under the sun, but the prosecution believes it has one final knockout punch to call on during Oscar’s sentencing.

That would be Barry Steenkamp, who has taken a backseat to wife June during the initial trial proceedings. He will give evidence now for the first time, having previously only watched on TV following a series of strokes.

Here’s the Telegraph with what to expect:

Mr Steenkamp is expected to take to the witness box as the “final ace” up the prosecution’s sleeve in its lengthy bid to have the world famous sprinter held to account.

“He decided he had to say thank you to all the people that supported him but also to say goodbye to his daughter,” a source told the Telegraph.

“He is very fragile but he wants to do it. If he can, it will be very powerful and emotional testimony.”

So how can Oscar go about receiving a lenient sentencing in the face of such an emotional testimony? Here’s Ulrich Roux, a prominent South African criminal lawyer:

[He] said if the athlete himself opted to give evidence in mitigation of sentence, he could help his cause.

“He is very remorseful about what has happened and shows the court how this tragedy has affected his life,” he said. “He should be able to withstand cross-examination. I think that would stand him in good stead.”

Expect another few days of high drama.

We will upload a live stream at 9:45AM, with things expected to kick off at around 10AM.

[source:telegraph]