Pistorius walks on his stumps for sympathy

An emotionally shattered Oscar Pistorius removed his artificial limbs and appeared on his stumps before a South African court on Wednesday in a desperate bid for leniency in the ongoing murder case of his girlfriend in which he is the prime accused.

Pistorius, who is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison for the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend, former model Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day three years ago, said he did not "want to hide behind his fame".

The defence argued that Pistorius had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her through a toilet door in self protection.

"It is three o'clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps. His balance is seriously compromised and... he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened...He believed the person in the toilet was an intruder and the deceased was at the time in bed," defence attorney Barry Roux said.

The 'Blade Runner' was asked by Roux to expose his amputated legs to the court to highlight his physical vulnerability.

The state prosecution lawyer, Gerrie Nel, pushed for Pistorius' original five-year prison term to be increased to a minimum 15 years of imprisonment.

"He knew there was someone behind the door. Using a lethal weapon, a loaded firearm, the accused fired not one but four shots to the toilet door. He failed to provide any acceptable version for his conduct."