Oscar trial: Oscar's ex, Samantha breaks down

Taylor said: "The first time our relationship ended was when he cheated on me with..." and she sniffed and apologised to the judge.

The ex-girlfriend of murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius started crying after telling the High Court in Pretoria that he cheated on her twice.

This prompted the judge to call a composure break.

Gently spoken Samantha Taylor had just described how Pistorius had fired a shot through a sunroof of a car while they were dating -- which relates to the charge of discharging a firearm in a public place.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked why their relationship, between 2011 and 2012, had ended and she said: "He cheated on me with Reeva Steenkamp."

Steenkamp was shot dead by Pistorius in a toilet cubicle in his bathroom in Pretoria on February 14, 2013.

He said it was mistaken identity, thinking it was a burglar. The State alleges it was murder.

When Roux began his cross-examination, he asked why they broke up.

She responded by enquiring whether he was referring to their first or second time.

Taylor said: "The first time our relationship ended was when he cheated on me with..." and she sniffed and apologised to the judge.

"I'm sorry, My Lady," she said, and Judge Thokozile Masipa called an adjournment.

Taylor wiped her eyes and was comforted by another woman, until court resumed a few minutes later.