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Pistorius begins court-ordered mental health evaluation Pistorius begins court-ordered mental health evaluation
(about 5 hours later)
Oscar Pistorius has arrived at a psychiatric hospital to begin his court-ordered mental health evaluation.Oscar Pistorius has arrived at a psychiatric hospital to begin his court-ordered mental health evaluation.
The South African athlete arrived at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria on Monday morning. He was driven in a black sedan, which followed a police van into the facility, and could be seen talking on a mobile phone. The South African athlete, who is on trial over the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, was driven to Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria on Monday morning. He could be seen talking on a mobile phone as he was driven in a black saloon car, which followed a police van into the facility.
Judge Thokozile Masipa last week ordered that the runner be observed by a panel of mental health experts for up to 30 days at Weskoppies after a psychiatrist testified at his murder trial that he had an anxiety disorder and it could have contributed to his fatal shooting of his girlfriend. Last week, Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered that the Olympic and Paralympic runner be observed by a panel of mental health experts for up to 30 days after a psychiatrist testified at his murder trial that he had an anxiety disorder and it could have contributed to his shooting of Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
Psychiatrists will decide whether Pistorius was criminally responsible for the shooting that killed Reeva Steenkamp, after his murder trial was postponed for the mental health assessment. Pistorius said he thought she was an intruder. Psychiatrists will decide whether he has an anxiety or any other mental disorder.
The judge ruled that he can be evaluated as an outpatient and return home each day – a decision that was taken in part to speed up the already delayed trial process because the wait for an inpatient bed can be several months – but has been interpreted by some observers as "preferential treatment". The judge said he can be evaluated as an outpatient and return home each day – a decision taken in part to speed up the already delayed trial process, because the wait for an inpatient bed can be several months. Some observers say Pistorius is being given preferential treatment.