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| Oscar Pistorius has 'anxiety disorder since childhood' | Oscar Pistorius has 'anxiety disorder since childhood' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was "anxious" about violent crime, a psychiatrist has said at his murder trial. | South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was "anxious" about violent crime, a psychiatrist has said at his murder trial. |
| Meryl Vorster said that his actions when he shot his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year "should be seen in context of his anxiety". | Meryl Vorster said that his actions when he shot his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year "should be seen in context of his anxiety". |
| The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp. | The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp. |
| The defence is expected to conclude its case by the end of the week. | The defence is expected to conclude its case by the end of the week. |
| Both sides are then expected to have an opportunity to present their closing arguments. | |
| Mr Pistorius says he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder. | Mr Pistorius says he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder. |
| Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with "fight" rather than "flight". | Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with "fight" rather than "flight". |
| She said that he felt remorse over Ms Steenkamp's death. | She said that he felt remorse over Ms Steenkamp's death. |
| "He feels guilty and has developed a depressive disorder as a result," she said. | "He feels guilty and has developed a depressive disorder as a result," she said. |
| The psychiatrist said that the reactions of Mr Pistorius in the early hours of 14 February 2013 would have been different to that of a "normal, able-bodied person without generalised anxiety disorder". | The psychiatrist said that the reactions of Mr Pistorius in the early hours of 14 February 2013 would have been different to that of a "normal, able-bodied person without generalised anxiety disorder". |
| However, she said that this would not have affected his ability to distinguish between right and wrong and that it was up to the court to decide whether his anxiety disorder - from which he had suffered since childhood - diminished his responsibility. | However, she said that this would not have affected his ability to distinguish between right and wrong and that it was up to the court to decide whether his anxiety disorder - from which he had suffered since childhood - diminished his responsibility. |
| "I think the generalised anxiety is relevant to the case. But the court will have to decide," she said. | "I think the generalised anxiety is relevant to the case. But the court will have to decide," she said. |
| Ms Vorster said that generalised anxiety disorders are not uncommon, and were not signs of mental illness. | Ms Vorster said that generalised anxiety disorders are not uncommon, and were not signs of mental illness. |
| Safety measures at his home were "out of proportion" to the threat of crime in South Africa, she said. | Safety measures at his home were "out of proportion" to the threat of crime in South Africa, she said. |
| Cowering | Cowering |
| She said that Mr Pistorius' parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent. | She said that Mr Pistorius' parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent. |
| "[He was] largely absent, and his mother was anxious, sleeping with a firearm under her pillow," she said. | "[He was] largely absent, and his mother was anxious, sleeping with a firearm under her pillow," she said. |
| She said that his mother's death in March 2002 meant that he lost an "emotional attachment figure". | She said that his mother's death in March 2002 meant that he lost an "emotional attachment figure". |
| The prosecution on Monday began by continuing its cross examination of a key ballistics expert. | The prosecution on Monday began by continuing its cross examination of a key ballistics expert. |
| Tom Wolmarans was asked detailed questions about the order and trajectory of bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp. | Tom Wolmarans was asked detailed questions about the order and trajectory of bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp. |
| Mr Wolmarans said on Friday that Ms Steenkamp's wounds showed she may have been standing when first shot. He said that she was not in a defensive position when Mr Pistorius shot her. | Mr Wolmarans said on Friday that Ms Steenkamp's wounds showed she may have been standing when first shot. He said that she was not in a defensive position when Mr Pistorius shot her. |
| Correspondents say that the painstaking debate over such detail reflects the defence's efforts to show that Ms Steenkamp was not arguing with Mr Pistorius at the time of the pre-dawn shooting, as the prosecution contends. | Correspondents say that the painstaking debate over such detail reflects the defence's efforts to show that Ms Steenkamp was not arguing with Mr Pistorius at the time of the pre-dawn shooting, as the prosecution contends. |
| The prosecution alleges he shot her dead after a row and that she was cowering from him in the toilet. | The prosecution alleges he shot her dead after a row and that she was cowering from him in the toilet. |
| There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa, assisted by two assessors. | There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa, assisted by two assessors. |
| If found guilty, Mr Pistorius - a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. | If found guilty, Mr Pistorius - a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment. |
| If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison. | If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison. |