Oscar Pistorius apologised to the family of Reeva Steenkamp today before slumping in the dock unable to continue with his evidence. Pistorius wept and trembled his way through his first day of evidence, describing how panic attacks had left him hiding in cupboards since the shooting.

He woke "smelling blood", was unable to sleep and was on anti-depressants and sedatives, he told the court. And in dramatic scenes in Pretoria, the day ended early with Pistorius sitting on the floor of the dock with his psychologist wiping away tears and stroking his face.

The athlete's family formed a protective shield around him as he composed himself before eventually leaving the building.

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

His voice cracking, he said "I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Reeva’s family, to those of you who knew her who are here today, to her friends. There hasn’t been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven’t thought about your family".

Pistorius shook as he described panic attacks and nightmares, while Ms. Steenkamp's relatives listened intently in the public gallery.

Members of Pistorius's family - including his brother and sister - also wept as the athlete gave evidence during an emotion-charged morning in Pretoria.

Almost inaudible at times, the Paralympian was asked to speak up by the judge so that the court could hear him.

Continuing to address June Steenkamp, he said "I wake up every morning and you’re the first people I think of. The first people I pray for".

"I can’t imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I’ve caused you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Reeva. I can promise you that when she went to bed that night she felt loved".

"I have tried to put my words on papers many, many times to write to you but no words would ever suffice".

June Steenkamp did no show any emotion as the defendant made the apology.

Pistorius said he was taking anti-depressant medicine and that he has sometimes woken up in terror, suffering from panic attacks

'I can smell blood'

"I have terrible nightmares about things that happened that night," he said.

"I wake up and I can smell blood and I wake up to being terrified. I hear a noise and I wake up in a complete state of terror, to the point that I would rather not sleep".

He described how, on one occasion, he woke in panic and had to ring a family member for help.

"I climbed into a cupboard and I phoned my sister to come and sit by me, which she did for a while" he said.

He described how important his Christian religion had been to him as he struggled to come to terms with the death his girlfriend.

"When I met Reeva - I always wanted to have a girlfriend who was Christian" Pistorius said. "She would pray for me at night. We would pray before we would eat.

"It is what has got me through this last year - I have been struggling a lot".

He was sworn in as he took the stand earlier:

The athlete says the shooting has left him terrified and plagued by nightmares. He told the court he believed he was keeping her safe from an intruder:

Oscar Pistorius told Reeva's parents that since her death he has spent every moment thinking of their family:

Pistorius' emotional evidence

Apologises to family 

• 'I want to start by apologising to Reeva's family'
• 'There hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought of the family'
• 'I can't imagine the pain, sorrow and emptiness' 

Physically affected 

• Pistorius tells court he was so scared on one occasion since Reeva's death he climbed into a cupboard to hide, and called his sister to come and be with him
• 'For many weeks I didn't sleep in April/March last year. I lost a significant amount of weight. I sought medical advice'
• Pistorius tells court he has been prescribed an anti-depressant and a sedative
• 'I can promise that when she (Reeva Steenkamp) went to bed that night she felt love'
• 'I'm scared to sleep... I have terrible nightmares about things that happened that night... I can smell blood'
• A security guard is posted outside door every night
• 'I was simply trying to protect Reeva' 

Early childhood

• 'I was born with a birth defect... missing fibula... on both legs... medics recommended double amputation'
• My Mother had a lot of security concerns. We obviously grew up in a family where my Father wasn't around a lot. She had a pistol. She would often get scared at night... on a couple of occasions they did break into our home... she would call us at night to come into her room and wait for the police. She kept her firearm under her pillow
• 'My family has always taught me to stand up for myself... it was not a family where we went home crying to our parents'
• Pistorius on a childhood as a double amputee: 'Kids always know... something that is different is seen as something that needs to be explored'
• 'During primary school my prosthetic legs were very heavy so they didn't really allow me to be that mobile... I guess it was difficult'
• My Mother was very supportive... she said to me she wouldn't do seperate school pick-ups', so Pistorius needed to find a sport to match his brother's after school timetable

Defence calls pathologist 

Earlier, defence lawyers in the trial earlier called the pathologist who examined Reeva Steenkamp's corpse to challenge claims about when she ate her latst meal.

The prosecution had presented evidence suggesting the model ate two hours before she died, contradicting the athlete's version of events.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux called pathologist Jan Botha to see if he agreed with that assessment.

The trial ended for the day when Mr. Pistorius, who denies murder, said he was feeling exhausted.