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Oscar Pistorius murder trial resumes in South Africa Oscar Pistorius 'had no mental disorder', trial hears
(35 minutes later)
The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is resuming in South Africa after a six-week break to evaluate the athlete's mental health. Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed his girlfriend, a psychological report said as his murder trial resumed.
His defence team has argued he was suffering from an anxiety disorder when he killed his girlfriend. The report was presented following an evaluation into his mental health.
A report by experts will help the judge decide how significant this is. His defence team has argued he was suffering from an anxiety disorder at the time of the shooting.
The athlete denies deliberately killing Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her accidentally in a state of panic after mistaking her for an intruder.The athlete denies deliberately killing Reeva Steenkamp. He says he shot her accidentally in a state of panic after mistaking her for an intruder.
BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding says the experts' report seems unlikely to alter the course of this trial dramatically - the defence has already acknowledged that Mr Pistorius's anxiety would not have stopped him knowing right from wrong. Both prosecution and defence have accepted the results of the report.
The defence is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days - calling perhaps three more witnesses. The defence team is now hearing from Dr Gerry Versfeld, who amputated Mr Pistorius' legs when he was just 11 months old. He had been born without the fibulas in both of his legs but went on to become an Olympic athlete.
Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Oscar Pistorius's house in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year. Dr Versfeld is testifying about the impact of the disability on Mr Pistorius, 27, and to what extent he can walk without his prosthetic legs.
The defence is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days.
Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Mr Pistorius' house in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year.
The couple had been dating for three months.The couple had been dating for three months.
Criminally responsible? "Mr Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged," said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report.
The trial was adjourned on 20 May after Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered Mr Pistorius, 27, to undergo a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.
The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defence witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Gad).The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defence witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (Gad).
Four appointed psychiatrists would "inquire into whether the accused by reason of mental illness or mental defect was at the time of the commission of the offence criminally responsible for the offence as charged," Judge Masipa said. Mr Pistorius, 27, underwent a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.
The team would decide whether he was "capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act".
It was revealed on Friday that one of the experts involved had suffered a heart attack, though this was not expected to delay the trial.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March this year, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March this year, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.
Generalised Anxiety DisorderGeneralised Anxiety Disorder