Oscar Pistorius could be sent to a psychiatric hospital for an evaluation of his mental health, following developments in the 27-year-old’s trial today.
Earlier today, the athlete’s defense team called psychiatrist Dr Merryl Vorster to the stand to discuss Pistorius’ anxiety disorder and long-standing fear of crime. The South African court heard that he suffers from generalised anxiety disorder, brought on by a combination of his mother’s death, difficulties handling the amputation of his lower legs and his growing fame, and that this may have contributed to his actions on the night of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s death at his home in Pretoria last year.
However, prosecuter Gerrie Nel claimed that Pistorius’ anxiety could have been raised as the trial “was not going well” and asked Vorster if the athlete’s deteriorating condition could make him a “danger to society, especially in possession of a firearm”, to which she agreed.
Nel then requested an adjournment to review Vorster’s report, with the intention of having Pistorius sent to a psychiatric hospital for observation under Section 78 of the Criminal Procedures Act.
The defense team has vehemently opposed the move, saying that Pistorius was “not delusional” on the night of Steenkamp’s death and arguing that the section only allows for detention to determine whether a defendant is not criminally responsible due to “mental illness or mental defect”.
“It must make the person incapable of realising the effect of his act. That is not the case here,” he said.
Pistorius has admitted shooting Steenkamp to death on 14 February 2013 but maintains that he believed that he was shooting at an intruder who had entered his home. If found guilty of murder, he could face a minimum of 25 years in prison.
