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Prosecutor Seeks 30-Day Psychiatric Evaluation for Pistorius Prosecutor Seeks 30-Day Psychiatric Evaluation for Pistorius
(about 2 hours later)
The prosecutor in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius formally applied on Tuesday for the athlete to undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation following testimony that he suffered from “general anxiety disorder.” The prosecutor in the murder trial of the athlete Oscar Pistorius formally applied on Tuesday for him to undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation following testimony that he suffered from “general anxiety disorder.”
The hearings in the South African capital, Pretoria, are now in their eighth week. The move by the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, could have a significant effect on both the duration of the trial, initially set to last three weeks, and on the basis for a judgment, South African legal analysts said.The hearings in the South African capital, Pretoria, are now in their eighth week. The move by the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, could have a significant effect on both the duration of the trial, initially set to last three weeks, and on the basis for a judgment, South African legal analysts said.
Mr. Pistorius, 27, a double-amputee track star whose glittering athletic career has taken him to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. He denied the charge — which carries a minimum 25-year jail term — saying that he shot Ms. Steenkamp by mistake in the belief that at least one intruder had entered his home in Pretoria. Mr. Pistorius, 27, a double-amputee track star whose glittering athletic career has taken him to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. He denied the charge — which carries a minimum 25-year jail term — saying that he shot Ms. Steenkamp by mistake, thinking that an intruder had entered his home in Pretoria.
The question of a psychiatric examination emerged for the first time on Monday when Merryll Vorster, a forensic psychiatrist testifying for the defense, said that Mr. Pistorius suffered from general anxiety disorder, dating to the amputation of both legs below the knee at the age of 11 months after he was born without fibula bones.The question of a psychiatric examination emerged for the first time on Monday when Merryll Vorster, a forensic psychiatrist testifying for the defense, said that Mr. Pistorius suffered from general anxiety disorder, dating to the amputation of both legs below the knee at the age of 11 months after he was born without fibula bones.
The psychiatrist also described a troubled childhood dominated by a largely absent father and a mother so given to anxiety about potential intruders that she slept with a firearm under her pillow. The trial is being held in Pretoria and is being broadcast around the world.The psychiatrist also described a troubled childhood dominated by a largely absent father and a mother so given to anxiety about potential intruders that she slept with a firearm under her pillow. The trial is being held in Pretoria and is being broadcast around the world.
In arguments on Tuesday, Barry Roux, Mr. Pistorius’s lead defense advocate, said his client’s condition was “not a mental illness” in terms of criminal procedure. Ms. Vorster said her diagnosis did not render him unfit to stand trial. In arguments on Tuesday, Barry Roux, Mr. Pistorius’s lead defense lawyer, said his client’s condition was “not a mental illness” in terms of criminal procedure. Ms. Vorster said her diagnosis did not render him unfit to stand trial.
But Mr. Nel said that there had been evidence that Mr. Pistorius’s disorder “may have played a role” and an examination could establish whether the athlete was mentally ill.But Mr. Nel said that there had been evidence that Mr. Pistorius’s disorder “may have played a role” and an examination could establish whether the athlete was mentally ill.
“We could get to an appeal court where questions would be asked why nothing was done about the psychological diagnosis,” Mr. Nel said, arguing also that there had been no earlier allusions in the trial by the defense to psychological factors as a possible explanation for Mr. Pistorius’s actions.“We could get to an appeal court where questions would be asked why nothing was done about the psychological diagnosis,” Mr. Nel said, arguing also that there had been no earlier allusions in the trial by the defense to psychological factors as a possible explanation for Mr. Pistorius’s actions.
Mr. Roux said Mr. Nel’s reading of law reports concerning other cases was “rather unfortunate” and called the prosecutor’s argument “manifestly absurd.” He described Mr. Nel’s argument as a “ruse.”Mr. Roux said Mr. Nel’s reading of law reports concerning other cases was “rather unfortunate” and called the prosecutor’s argument “manifestly absurd.” He described Mr. Nel’s argument as a “ruse.”
Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa adjourned the session and said she would rule on the dispute on Wednesday.Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa adjourned the session and said she would rule on the dispute on Wednesday.