The trial of Oscar Pistorius has heard that he did not have any mental disorder on the night he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Proceedings resumed on Monday after the Paralympic athlete spent 30 days receiving a psychological evaluation.The findings mean that he is criminally responsible for his actions and that he knew right from wrong, the prosecution has said. The athlete's lawyers had argued that he was suffering from an anxiety disorder.
© Photo: RexOscar Pistorius defence team is expected to wrap up its evidence in the next few days. Both sides accepted the finding of the meantal health report, which they received over the weekend. Surprisingly Judge Masipa says she was only handed the report on Monday morning.
Along with two assistants, the judge will decide the outcome of the trial as juries are not used in South Africa.
Oscar has said he mistook Reeva for a burglar on the night of the killing. Prosecution lawyers claim he shot his girlfriend of three months in a fit of rage after an argument.
© Photo: RexHis evidence is intended to show how vulnerable the 27-year-old would have felt if he thought an intruder was in the house. Defence lawyers also called an acoustic expert to discredit witnesses who claimed to hear a woman's screams on the night of the model's death.
The court also heard from Dr Gerry Versfeld, who amputated the athlete's legs below the knee when he was just 11 months old and has remained close to the Pistorius family. The doctor testified that walking on his remaining stumps would be painful and Oscar would be likely to fall over.
As the trial continued it emerged that the gun club where Oscar practised and from which he ordered several firearms is under investigation.
© Photo: RexIf found guilty of murder the defendant faces life in imprisonment. The court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.
