Oscar Pistorius vomited and sobbed as he heard graphic evidence about the injuries caused by his shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The trial of the olympian continues in South Africa with Pistorious accused of the murder of his girlfriend. He was listening to evidence from pathologist Professor Gert Saayman, who explained that Steenkamp had been dressed in a grey Nike shorts and a black vest top when she was killed by three bullets fired through the lavatory door by Pistorius.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Pistorius said the model was shot in the hip, arm and head and had additional injuries caused by shrapnel and splinters from the door, along with a wound to her hand potentially caused by her raising it to protect her face.

Some of the bullets were damaged by their trajectory through the door, causing additional damage, Prof Saayman added.

As the pathologist spoke, Pistorius lost all semblance of the composure he guarded so carefully in the first week of the sensational murder trial now entering its second week at Pretoria’s High Court.

The athlete rocked back and forth, hands clasped behind his head, apparently trying to block out what he was hearing.

His hands shook violently as he attempted to cover his ears. He threw up repeatedly and audibly into a bucket placed in the dock by one of the custody officers.

During a brief adjournment, his brother Carl and sister Aimee gathered around him. Miss Pistorius was also crying, her chin quivering with emotion. A family friend passed some aromatherapy oil on a handkerchief in a bid to rally the accused.

As the case resumed, Judge Thokozile Masipa asked Barry Roux, Pistorius’ barrister, if his client was “fine”, expressing a concern that he were able to understand what was being said.

“My Lady, he’s not fine but he’s not going to be fine,” he replied. “He’s having some difficulty. He’s very emotional but it’s not going to change.”

Oscar Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend at his Pretoria home in the early hours of St Valentine’s Day last year, saying he believed she was an intruder when he shot her. The state contends that he murdered her after an argument.