This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/oscar-pistorius-psychiatric-evaluation
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Judge orders Oscar Pistorius to undergo psychiatric tests | Judge orders Oscar Pistorius to undergo psychiatric tests |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The judge overseeing the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has ordered the double-amputee athlete to undergo psychiatric tests, meaning the trial proceedings will be delayed. | The judge overseeing the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has ordered the double-amputee athlete to undergo psychiatric tests, meaning the trial proceedings will be delayed. |
| On Monday the chief prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, said he had no option but to ask for a psychiatric evaluation after an expert witness for the defence, Dr Merryll Vorster, testified that Pistorius had an anxiety disorder which may have influenced his judgment when he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | |
| On Wednesday the judge, Thokozile Masipa, said the court was "ill-equipped" to assess Vorster's diagnosis and therefore Pistorius should be sent for a period of evaluation. She said it was important to assess the defendant's state of mind because of the possibility raised by the prosecution that Pistorius might argue he was not criminally responsible as a result of his anxiety disorder. | |
| "The accused may not have raised the issue that he was not criminally responsible at the time of the incident in so many words, but evidence led on his behalf clearly raised the issue and cannot be ignored," the judge said. | "The accused may not have raised the issue that he was not criminally responsible at the time of the incident in so many words, but evidence led on his behalf clearly raised the issue and cannot be ignored," the judge said. |
| Masipa noted that having Pistorius evaluated as an outpatient would be preferable as the referral for psychiatric analysis was not meant to punish him, and acknowledged that trial proceedings would be delayed for an unspecified amount of time. | Masipa noted that having Pistorius evaluated as an outpatient would be preferable as the referral for psychiatric analysis was not meant to punish him, and acknowledged that trial proceedings would be delayed for an unspecified amount of time. |
| "This is not about anyone's convenience, but rather about whether justice has been served," Masipa said. | "This is not about anyone's convenience, but rather about whether justice has been served," Masipa said. |
| Nel had previously referred to a period of 30 days for a psychiatric evaluation. Any panel of experts that assessed Pistorius would probably take additional time to compile a report and submit it to the court. The trial started on 3 March. | |
| Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp by mistake, thinking there was an intruder in his home. The prosecution says the he killed her after an argument. | Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp by mistake, thinking there was an intruder in his home. The prosecution says the he killed her after an argument. |