The twists and turns of the Oscar Pistorius trail continue. The court was told today that a panel has come to the conclusion that Pistorious was not suffering from any mental illness when he fatally shot his then girlfriend, 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp.
The panel was made up of a psychologist and three psychiatrists who assessed whether the double-amputee Olympic athlete was capable of understanding the true consequences of his actions at the time.
"At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or mental defect that affected his ability to distinguish between the rightful or wrongful nature of his deeds," a report read.
The opinion means that he could be held criminally responsible for his actions despite his defence team’s attempts to claim that he was suffering from an anxiety disorder. Both the prosecution and defence teams have accepted the result.
Pistorius claims that he did not deliberately kill Steenkamp and that he shot her through the bathroom door because he was scared that she was an intruder and fearful for his own life.
Steenkamp was killed while the couple were celebrating Valentine's Day last year. They had been dating for just three months.
The trial involving two of South Africa’s most famous faces has understandably gripped the nation. It is being televised with Pistorius frequently showing his emotions to the world by sobbing and even vomiting in the courtroom.
The court is now hearing from Dr Gerry Versfeld, the doctor who amputated Pistorius’ legs when he was only 11 years old due to the lack of fibulas in both his legs. Despite this, he became an Olympic athlete and superstar. Versfeld is testifying on the level the athlete can walk without his prosthetics.
Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder. If he is acquitted of the charge and instead charged with culpable homicide he would be looking at around 15 years.
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