Oscar Pistorius today denied shooting Reeva Steenkamp dead as her "blood-curdling" screams penetrated his apartment.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel put it to Pistorius that he had armed himself "with the sole purpose of shooting and killing" his girlfriend.

Ending five days of cross-examination, Mr. Nel once again reduced Pistorius to tears as he asked him who was to blame for the bullets that "ripped through her body".

"Who should we blame for the fact that you shot her?" Mr. Nel asked.

Pistorius replied "I don't know my lady, I was scared. I believe there was a threat on my life". Mr. Nel continued "Once again, we shouldn't blame you? Who should we blame?".

"I'm not sure," Pistorius replied.

Mr. Nel asked "Should we blame Reeva? She never told you that she was going to the toilet - we should blame Reeva?".

Pistorius replied "No, my lady". Mr. Nel pressed on: "Should we blame the government? You must be blaming someone?".

"I don't know. My lady, I believed that someone was coming to attack me" Pistorius replied.

Mr. Nel then asked "Who should we blame for the black talon rounds that ripped through her body?". After a few seconds to compose himself, Pistorius said that the ammunition was of the type required by his gun.

As he concluded his cross examination Mr. Nel referred to Reeva's "blood curdling screams" heard by neighbours.

He went on "I'm putting to you that there were only two people in the house. You killed Reeva. I'm putting it to you that your version is not only untruthful but is so improbable that it cannot reasonably be true. She was locked into the bathroom and you armed yourself with the sole purpose of shooting and killing her".

Pistorius said "That's not true my lady".

Mr. Nel ended "Afterwards you were overcome by what you had done - only because it was your intention to kill her".

Earlier, the athlete sobbed as he was asked to look at a photograph of Ms. Steenkamp slumped on the toilet bowl.

He was asked why he didn't scream when he saw Ms. Steenkamp (27) injured in the toilet, as opposed to the moments before.

Mr. Nel said "I find it strange Sir, you've now seen her for the first time, that your panic was not there?"

Pistorius replied "The state of panic was not knowing - when I saw her there, it was sadness. I was broken. I was talking to her, I was saying 'baby please hold on, Jesus help'".

Mr. Nel then accused Pistorius of calling security by mistake and telling them things "were ok" because he did not want them in the apartment. Pistorius said he did not recall speaking to security.

Pistorius (27) admits shooting his girlfriend dead - but says he believed that she was an intruder. He 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 on separate occasions prior to the killing.