Judge Thokozile Masipa will rule Wednesday on whether Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius will be placed under a 30-day psychiatric observation.
Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel made the request for a psychiatric evaluation to be conducted on the Paralympian and has acknowledged that he understands this could delay the trial for months.Nel has argued if the double amputee's mental health is an issue, the court must "err on the side of caution."
Defense attorney Barry Roux has called Nel's reading of the law "unfortunate" and does not see the need for Pistorius to submit to apsychiatric evaluation.
Psychiatrist Merryll Vorster also returned to the stand Tuesday.Vorster has testified that the Olympian suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder.
According to CNN, Vorster told the court that Pistorius' anxiety disorder comes out in his "excessive" concern about security, friendships lacking in depth, and short-term sexual relationships. She added, "People with generalized anxiety probably shouldn't have firearms."
On the night Pistorius fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp, Vorster said the Paralympian's anxiety led him to discern he was in danger even though objectively he was not.
Vorster also addressed the question of why Pistorius approached the perceived danger on the night of the shooting, rather than trying to get away. The psychiatrist explained that the athlete'sdisability, when facing a fight-or-flight situation, drives him to instinctively fight, not flee.
On March 3, the Olympic sprinter pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing.If convicted, Pistorius faces 25 years in jail.
Written byNicole Bennett
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