Athletics
Prosecutor says Pistorius dropped ‘the baton of truth’
PRETORIA, South Africa – In closing arguments in a murder trial that has riveted South Africa and many around the world, the chief prosecutor said Thursday that Olympian Oscar Pistorius dropped “the baton of truth” and produced a succession of lies to save himself from a conviction for shooting to death his girlfriend.
Likening the sensational trial to the sport that made the double-amputee runner world-famous, Gerrie Nel said Pistorius had lost this race and urged the judge to convict him of premeditated murder for killing Reeva Steenkamp. The charge carries a sentence of at least 25 years and up to life in prison.
Nel said Pistorius’ explanation that he acted out of fear there was a dangerous intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle in his bathroom was “absolutely devoid of any truth.” Nel criticized Pistorius in the Pretoria courtroom, saying he was an “appalling witness” ready to lie at every chance to cover up a murder. The chief prosecutor spoke for nearly five hours, using the 109-page written argument the prosecution submitted to the court last week.
At the start of closing arguments, judge Thokozile Masipa warned the lawyers they only have until the end of Friday to complete their arguments.
Cycling
Danielson wins Tour of Utah’s Stage 4 to take overall lead
EDEN, Utah – Defending champion Tom Danielson dropped Chris Horner in the final miles Thursday and easily won the fourth stage of the Tour of Utah to take the overall race lead.
After his Garmin-Sharp team put him in position at the base of Powder Mountain, Danielson showed his climbing legs on the roughly 6-mile ascent to the finish. The Fort Lewis College alumnus crossed the finish line with a 56-second lead over Ben Hermans and another second over Horner.
Those three riders now lead the overall standings with three stages remaining.
The fifth stage Friday will take riders into Wyoming for the first time in the 10-year history of the race. The 102-mile trek includes a long stretch of dirt road near the finish in Kamas.
Basketball
Durant the latest to withdraw from the World Cup team
Kevin Durant withdrew Thursday from the United States’ national team, the biggest loss yet for a weakening American squad that will go to Spain without the leading scorer on its last two gold-medal winners.
The NBA’s MVP took part in the Americans’ training camp in Las Vegas last week, then informed team officials that he wasn’t going to continue.
Durant was the MVP of the world championship in 2010, leading the Americans to that title for the first time since 1994. The Oklahoma City star also started on their gold medal-winning team in the 2012 Olympics and led the Americans with 19.5 points per game.
His withdrawal comes less than a week after Indiana’s Paul George was lost to a broken right leg and follows previous withdrawals by All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love.
The U.S. roster is down to 15 players. The Americans will resume practicing next Thursday in Chicago and have to finalize a 12-man roster before the World Cup of Basketball begins Aug. 30.
The 6-10 Durant has averaged 19.9 points in 31 games for the U.S.
USA women to play friendlies in Delaware, Connecticut
COLORADO SPRINGS – The U.S. women’s national basketball team will play an exhibition showcase in Delaware on Sept. 11 as part of its training for the upcoming world championship.
The game will be an intrasquad scrimmage of national team players, who will begin training Sept. 8 in Maryland. The U.S. then will play a game against Canada on Sept. 15 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The Americans also will head overseas for four exhibition games in the Czech Republic and France.
The world championships are Sept. 27-Oct. 5 in Istanbul.
Associated Press
