This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/jun/13/oscar-pistorius-sentencing-murder-reeva-steenkamp
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Oscar Pistorius sentencing: day one – as it happened | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 2.44pm BST | 2.44pm BST |
| 14:44 | 14:44 |
| Summary: day one | Summary: day one |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| The first day of the hearing to determine what sentence Oscar Pistorius will receive for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp has concluded. | The first day of the hearing to determine what sentence Oscar Pistorius will receive for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp has concluded. |
| Here are the key developments. | Here are the key developments. |
| Two witnesses will speak in mitigation | Two witnesses will speak in mitigation |
| Scholtz: Pistorius should not return to prison | Scholtz: Pistorius should not return to prison |
| Further imprisonment would have a detrimental effect on him. | Further imprisonment would have a detrimental effect on him. |
| [It] would not be psychologically or socially constructive. | [It] would not be psychologically or socially constructive. |
| Mr Pistorius would be better served … if he gave back in a positive and constructive way, using his skills. | Mr Pistorius would be better served … if he gave back in a positive and constructive way, using his skills. |
| Pistorius will not testify | Pistorius will not testify |
| I don’t think he is able to be a witness in this trial: his condition is severe. | I don’t think he is able to be a witness in this trial: his condition is severe. |
| ‘His risk of reoffending is low’ | ‘His risk of reoffending is low’ |
| But he was ‘verbally violent and aggressive’ in prison | But he was ‘verbally violent and aggressive’ in prison |
| There are conflicting versions of his time in prison | There are conflicting versions of his time in prison |
| Pistorius ‘accepts he murdered Steenkamp’ | Pistorius ‘accepts he murdered Steenkamp’ |
| Nel: Did Mr Pistorius indicate to you that he intentionally shot at the door knowing there was a person in the bathroom? | Nel: Did Mr Pistorius indicate to you that he intentionally shot at the door knowing there was a person in the bathroom? |
| Scholtz: Yes … | Scholtz: Yes … |
| Nel: That’s the first version of him intentionally shooting at the person that we’ve had in this court. | Nel: That’s the first version of him intentionally shooting at the person that we’ve had in this court. |
| It’s not clear if the Steenkamps will testify | It’s not clear if the Steenkamps will testify |
| This is the kind of person he is … It was not seen by him as some kind of means to change anything … This is what he does: he helps. | This is the kind of person he is … It was not seen by him as some kind of means to change anything … This is what he does: he helps. |
| The court resumes on Tuesday at 9.30am local time (7.30am GMT), when we expect to hear from the second witness for the defence. The live blog will return then. Thanks for reading and for your comments and questions. | The court resumes on Tuesday at 9.30am local time (7.30am GMT), when we expect to hear from the second witness for the defence. The live blog will return then. Thanks for reading and for your comments and questions. |
| 2.17pm BST | 2.17pm BST |
| 14:17 | 14:17 |
| #OscarPistorius -- leaves the court after day one of his sentencing hearing. He walks right past me. pic.twitter.com/muvSRXo7lA | #OscarPistorius -- leaves the court after day one of his sentencing hearing. He walks right past me. pic.twitter.com/muvSRXo7lA |
| 2.08pm BST | 2.08pm BST |
| 14:08 | 14:08 |
| Scholtz and Roux agree that two medications found in Pistorius’ cell, one of which was Molipaxin (apologies, I did not catch the name of the second drug), were “not illegal”. Both are antidepressants. | Scholtz and Roux agree that two medications found in Pistorius’ cell, one of which was Molipaxin (apologies, I did not catch the name of the second drug), were “not illegal”. Both are antidepressants. |
| [Edit: a reader via Twitter points out that the second drug mentioned was Cipralex. Many thanks.] | [Edit: a reader via Twitter points out that the second drug mentioned was Cipralex. Many thanks.] |
| The witness is now excused. The first witness testimony is done. | The witness is now excused. The first witness testimony is done. |
| Court now adjourns to tomorrow at 9.30am local time (8.30am GMT). | Court now adjourns to tomorrow at 9.30am local time (8.30am GMT). |
| I will post a summary of today’s events shortly. | I will post a summary of today’s events shortly. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.16pm BST | at 2.16pm BST |
| 2.06pm BST | 2.06pm BST |
| 14:06 | 14:06 |
| Barry Roux says Pistorius paid the R6,500-a-month to the Steenkamp family without any conditions. | Barry Roux says Pistorius paid the R6,500-a-month to the Steenkamp family without any conditions. |
| Scholtz: This is the kind of person he is … It was not seen by him as some kind of means to change anything … | Scholtz: This is the kind of person he is … It was not seen by him as some kind of means to change anything … |
| This is what he does: he helps. It comes almost naturally to him and he enjoys doing it. | This is what he does: he helps. It comes almost naturally to him and he enjoys doing it. |
| 2.03pm BST | 2.03pm BST |
| 14:03 | 14:03 |
| Roux turns to the incident mentioned by Nel in which Pistorius apparently banged his hands on a table. | Roux turns to the incident mentioned by Nel in which Pistorius apparently banged his hands on a table. |
| Roux says Pistorius was frustrated because he had swollen hands and a medicine (Voltaren, an anti-inflammatory drug) brought to the prison by his family was not given to him. | Roux says Pistorius was frustrated because he had swollen hands and a medicine (Voltaren, an anti-inflammatory drug) brought to the prison by his family was not given to him. |
| Scholtz says this was a situation of high stress. One incident doesn’t mean that a person has a violent personality. | Scholtz says this was a situation of high stress. One incident doesn’t mean that a person has a violent personality. |
| 1.59pm BST | 1.59pm BST |
| 13:59 | 13:59 |
| Barry Roux, for the defence, is on his feet again for re-examination. | Barry Roux, for the defence, is on his feet again for re-examination. |
| He asks Roux to read from a different section of the prison psychologist report, which concludes that the risk of reoffending is low. | He asks Roux to read from a different section of the prison psychologist report, which concludes that the risk of reoffending is low. |
| Scholtz says he agrees with this part. | Scholtz says he agrees with this part. |
| 1.57pm BST | 1.57pm BST |
| 13:57 | 13:57 |
| Why were you at first reluctant to take on the writing of this report, Nel asks Scholtz. | Why were you at first reluctant to take on the writing of this report, Nel asks Scholtz. |
| Scholtz says it was an “ethical dilemma” – because he had already assessed Pistorius in 2014, and “your objectivity is affected the second time”. | Scholtz says it was an “ethical dilemma” – because he had already assessed Pistorius in 2014, and “your objectivity is affected the second time”. |
| You’re biased towards the accused, Nel alleges. | You’re biased towards the accused, Nel alleges. |
| Scholtz says he merely tried to “present the court with this person in the fullest extent”. He wanted the court to “see the person that is being sentenced”. | Scholtz says he merely tried to “present the court with this person in the fullest extent”. He wanted the court to “see the person that is being sentenced”. |
| That’s it – Nel takes his seat. | That’s it – Nel takes his seat. |
| 1.55pm BST | 1.55pm BST |
| 13:55 | 13:55 |
| If someone is suffering from PTSD, is it safe for him to work with children, Nel wants to know. | If someone is suffering from PTSD, is it safe for him to work with children, Nel wants to know. |
| Scholtz says he wouldn’t expect there to be any problem. Pressed by Nel he says Pistorius might “snap” if there was a confrontation, or pressure builds up, or an argument – but says this is unlikely to be a problem working with children. | Scholtz says he wouldn’t expect there to be any problem. Pressed by Nel he says Pistorius might “snap” if there was a confrontation, or pressure builds up, or an argument – but says this is unlikely to be a problem working with children. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.55pm BST | at 1.55pm BST |
| 1.52pm BST | 1.52pm BST |
| 13:52 | 13:52 |
| Nel says Scholtz failed to include the negative portions of the prison psychologist report in his own report. | Nel says Scholtz failed to include the negative portions of the prison psychologist report in his own report. |
| Scholtz said in his own assessment he “could not find any anger or aggression” in Pistorius. | Scholtz said in his own assessment he “could not find any anger or aggression” in Pistorius. |
| 1.50pm BST | 1.50pm BST |
| 13:50 | 13:50 |
| Gerrie Nel is not letting go of this point. He continues to read from the prison psychologist report, which says that Pistorius refused to acknowledge he had committed a crime. | Gerrie Nel is not letting go of this point. He continues to read from the prison psychologist report, which says that Pistorius refused to acknowledge he had committed a crime. |
| Scholtz says he saw Pistorius a year later: | Scholtz says he saw Pistorius a year later: |
| It is not like that now. | It is not like that now. |
| He knew that you were seeing him to draft a report for re-sentencing, Nel says. | He knew that you were seeing him to draft a report for re-sentencing, Nel says. |
| 1.48pm BST | 1.48pm BST |
| 13:48 | 13:48 |
| Judge Masipa intervenes: she wants to know more about the prison psychologist report. | Judge Masipa intervenes: she wants to know more about the prison psychologist report. |
| It says that at the beginning he struggled to adapt to prison life and was verbally violent, she says. | It says that at the beginning he struggled to adapt to prison life and was verbally violent, she says. |
| It doesn’t say anything about him being violent in nature. | It doesn’t say anything about him being violent in nature. |
| Scholtz agrees: | Scholtz agrees: |
| I am happy with my view that he is not a violent man. | I am happy with my view that he is not a violent man. |