Oscar Pistorius' OJ Simpson like murder trial nears conclusion as the defense rests its case. In related news, witnesses to the Reeva Steenkamp's killing "refused to testify" because of the publicity.

According to the NY Times, the Oscar Pistorius' OJ Simpson like murder trial took one step closer to the finish during the 39th day of the hearing. The defense and prosecution will return on August 7-8 so they can make their oral arguments.

The publication said that Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa will hand down her verdict before the end of next month.

The defense argued during the Oscar Pistorius' OJ Simpson like trial that his "condition" made him feel vulnerable which will manifest itself for overrreacting, just like what happened on February 14, 2013 when he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp inside the toilet.

The former Olympian said that he mistook the 29-year-old model for a burglar.

"This is the night I lost the person I most cared about. I don't know how people don't understand that," he said during one cross-examination in April.

In a report by BBC, some witnesses refused invitation to testify in Oscar Pistorius' OJ Simpson like trial because of the publicity it generated, the lawyer for the Olympian said, or as he put it, the witnesses didn't want "their voices all over the world."

"Although Oscar Pistorius' legal team revealed that some witnesses had refused to testify, it is unlikely to harm the athlete's defence, as this has always hinged on his testimony and that of experts," the BBC analysis said.

The defense's case suffered a major blow after the psych evaluation did not prove that he suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

"Mr. Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged," state prosecutor Gerrie Nel read the report, according to BBC, last week.