Oscar Pistorius will be placed under psychiatric evaluation after an expert witness testified he had an anxiety disorder.
It means the Olympic and Paralympic athlete will spend 30 days being examined to establish whether or not his mental capacity was diminished at the time he shot and killed 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The dramatic events occurred after the late introduction of defence witness psychiatrist Merryll Vorster, who told the court the runner was suffering from General Anxiety Disorder.
Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested this was because the trial was not going well for the athlete and his legal team were hoping to raise the possibility of diminished responsibility.
Pistorius’s defence team said Dr Vorster’s evidence was for the judge to simply “bear in mind” when ruling.
Mr Nel asked for another professional evaluation of Pistorius’s mental state, opposed by Pistorius’s defence team, but it was granted today by judge Thokozile Masipa — who said “there could be diminished criminal responsibility” but that the court was not equipped to decide.
She said the decision to oppose the application by defence counsel Barry Roux was “strange”, adding: “The accused may not have raised the issue that he was not criminally responsible but evidence raised on his behalf clearly raises the issue and cannot be ignored.
“A proper enquiry would ensure the accused receives a fair trial.”
The prosecution alleges Pistorius murdered Steenkamp by firing at her through a locked toilet door in his home following an argument. Pistorius denies the charge and claims he fired “accidentally”.
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday for the full order to be made.
