Oscar Pistorius Completes Psychiatric Tests. Trial Resumes On Monday


Oscar Pistorius, who is being tried for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in South Africa, will be back in the courtroom starting Monday. The former athlete completed a series of psychiatric evaluation tests as part of his ongoing trial, reports ABC News.

The tests were conducted in order to determine his mental condition at the time of the shooting. The trial had come to a halt last month after a defense witness testified in the court claiming that Pistorius suffers from anxiety disorder and depression. The witness, Dr.Merryll Vorster, happens to be a forensic psychiatrist as well. She testified that Pistorius’ medical disorder could have had an impact on his actions when he shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

In the last few days of the trial, Pistorius had also displayed eccentric behavior in the courtroom where he cried many times and on one occasion, even vomited inside the court premises. This happened when Pistorius was shown pictures of the scene of the murder. It was after this that the court ordered that Oscar be subjected to a complete psychiatric evaluation before the trial could continue.

According to Vorster, Pistorius’ medical condition could have led to heightening his perception of danger which in turn could have caused him to react in the way he did on the day of Steenkamp’s death. In his defense, Vorster also added that Pistorius’ physical disability and the fact that his own mother is used to sleeping with a gun under her pillow added to his feeling of vulnerability and the probability of showing extreme reaction to perceived danger.

It was after this observation that the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, requested the court to send Pistorius for the aforementioned evaluation to check if his condition could affect the trial, reports The Examiner. After the order was passed, Pistorius was evaluated by three psychiatrists at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria where he remained as an outpatient.

The evaluations are reportedly complete now and the court will resume taking up the case starting Monday. It is however still unclear if the psychiatric report is ready to be submitted to the court on Monday.

Oscar Pistorius, also known as the “Blade Runner,” is a double amputee who is on trial for allegedly murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. The murder and the subsequent trial has been much publicized. Pistorius, while admitting that he did shoot Reeva, maintains that it was a mistake on his part and that he did so because he mistook Reeva for a burglar. Oscar Pistorius faces up to 25 years in Prison if he is found guilty of the charges against him.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Share this article: Oscar Pistorius Completes Psychiatric Tests. Trial Resumes On Monday
More from Inquisitr