Pistorius has anxiety disorder, psychiatrist tells court
Reuters
2014-05-12
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Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day 30 of his murder trial.
The South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a law graduate and model.
A forensic psychiatrist testified on Monday for the defense about Pistorius' mental state.
He told the court that the athlete suffers from an anxiety disorder, provoked by an unstable childhood and having his lower legs amputated as a baby.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST, MERRYL VORSTER, SAYING:
"Well, I think that the generalized anxiety disorder is relevant to the facts, and so it would be for the court to decide, if that constitutes a mental illness or whether there is sufficient doubt and whether the accused should be referred to observation or not."
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the judge that he intends to bring an application to have Pistorius mentally evaluated following the doctor's diagnosis.
Oscar Pistorius arrives in court on day 30 of his murder trial.
The South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a law graduate and model.
A forensic psychiatrist testified on Monday for the defense about Pistorius' mental state.
He told the court that the athlete suffers from an anxiety disorder, provoked by an unstable childhood and having his lower legs amputated as a baby.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST, MERRYL VORSTER, SAYING:
"Well, I think that the generalized anxiety disorder is relevant to the facts, and so it would be for the court to decide, if that constitutes a mental illness or whether there is sufficient doubt and whether the accused should be referred to observation or not."
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the judge that he intends to bring an application to have Pistorius mentally evaluated following the doctor's diagnosis.
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