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| Oscar Pistorius Trial: Prosecutor requests 'mental evaluation' for athlete | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief prosecutor at the Oscar Pistorius murder trial has asked for the athlete to undergo an independent 'psychiatric evaluation' after an expert defence witness claimed he suffers from an "anxiety disorder". | |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel cited the testimony of Dr Merryll Vorster, a psychiatrist and witness for the defence, who argued the athlete's generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) coupled with his physical disability "may" have played a role in the shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel cited the testimony of Dr Merryll Vorster, a psychiatrist and witness for the defence, who argued the athlete's generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) coupled with his physical disability "may" have played a role in the shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. |
| The prosecutor also questioned the timing of her testimony and suggested the defence will now argue Pistorius has "diminished responsibility" for the shooting. | |
| Judge Thokozile Masipa has not yet ruled on the request. The athlete's defence has opposed the application claiming there is "no merit" in the state's case. If approved, Pistorius could spend up to 30 days in observation at a mental health institution in South Africa. | Judge Thokozile Masipa has not yet ruled on the request. The athlete's defence has opposed the application claiming there is "no merit" in the state's case. If approved, Pistorius could spend up to 30 days in observation at a mental health institution in South Africa. |
| It was expected that the defence would conclude its case by the end of the week- after which both sides would present their closing arguments. If Pistorius is, indeed, sent for evaluation to a government facility the trial could be delayed for more than a month. | |
| Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterised by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry that may cause sleeping problems, lack of concentration and prevent an individual from leading a normal life. | |
| Yesterday, Dr Vorster told the court his double leg amputation as a baby and his complicated relationship with his parents turned him into a "distrusting and guarded" person who often kept his feelings to himself and felt "alone and isolated" despite his fame and status as South Africa's national hero. | Yesterday, Dr Vorster told the court his double leg amputation as a baby and his complicated relationship with his parents turned him into a "distrusting and guarded" person who often kept his feelings to himself and felt "alone and isolated" despite his fame and status as South Africa's national hero. |
| She said Pistorius was "reared to view the world as threatening" from an early age and this made him "perceive his surroundings as being threatening when perhaps they're not". If exposed to a threatening situation, Pistorius is more likely to "fight" than "flight". | |
| In cross examination, Mr Nel asked the psychiatrist if someone suffering from an anxiety disorder similar to the kind that she had diagnosed in Pistorius, and had access to guns, would be a danger to society. Dr Vorster conceded the person would be a danger. | In cross examination, Mr Nel asked the psychiatrist if someone suffering from an anxiety disorder similar to the kind that she had diagnosed in Pistorius, and had access to guns, would be a danger to society. Dr Vorster conceded the person would be a danger. |
| She saw Pistorius twice, on 2 May and 7 May, after the athlete had testified and was cross-examined, and diagnosed him based on interviews with Pistorius himself, family members and friends. | |
| The state argues the athlete shot and killed his girlfriend deliberately, knowing full well she was behind the toilet door, following a domestic dispute in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. He claims he killed his girlfriend in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle at his Pretoria home. | The state argues the athlete shot and killed his girlfriend deliberately, knowing full well she was behind the toilet door, following a domestic dispute in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. He claims he killed his girlfriend in a case of mistaken identity thinking she was an intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle at his Pretoria home. |
| South Africa does not have trial by jury, meaning Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide Pistorius' fate with the help of two assessors. | South Africa does not have trial by jury, meaning Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide Pistorius' fate with the help of two assessors. |
| The murder trial continues. | The murder trial continues. |