Oscar Pistorius told his murder trial how he had once been shot at while driving on a highway, adding that "everybody in South Africa has been exposed to crime."
The sprinter recounted seeing "the muzzle flash" and hearing a bang while he was behind the wheel of his car.
"Many members of my family have been victims of house-breakings and violent crime," the double-amputee Olympian added. Pistorius said that his father had been "hijacked twice since I was a kid."
The 27-year-old sprinter is accused of fatally shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius insists he mistook her for an intruder.
Earlier, Pistorius told the High Court in Pretoria that he was "simply trying to protect Reeva" when he opened fire through his bathroom door.
He also testified about that a 2009 boat crash had left him with a fear of losing his life.
The trial continues.