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Oscar Pistorius murder trial enters final week Oscar Pistorius has 'anxiety disorder since childhood'
(5 minutes later)
The trial of South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is entering its final week with the defence set to conclude its case by Friday. South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was "anxious" about violent crime, a psychiatrist has said at his murder trial.
The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year. Meryl Vorster said that his actions when he shot his girlfriend on Valentine's Day last year "should be seen in context of his anxiety".
Giving evidence on Monday, a psychiatrist said that the athlete had an anxiety disorder and was "anxious" about violent crime in South Africa. The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp.
Meryl Vorster said that he also endured bouts of anxiety during his childhood. The trial is expected to conclude by the end of the week.
Defence lawyer Barry Roux has only a limited number of witnesses left to call and is expected to complete his case by the end of this week. Defence lawyer Barry Roux has only a limited number of witnesses left to call and is expected to complete his case by Friday.
Mr Pistorius says he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.Mr Pistorius says he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Judge Thokozile Masipa will retire to consider her verdict once prosecutor Gerrie Nel has completed his arguments.Judge Thokozile Masipa will retire to consider her verdict once prosecutor Gerrie Nel has completed his arguments.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by her, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by her, assisted by two assessors.
Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius felt remorse over Ms Steenkamp's death.
"He feels guilty and has developed a depressive disorder as a result," she said.
The psychiatrist said that the reactions of Mr Pistorius in the early hours of 14 February 2013 would have been different to that of a "normal, able-bodied person without generalised anxiety disorder".
However, she said that this would not have affected his ability to distinguish between right and wrong and that it was up to the court to decide whether his anxiety disorder - from which he had suffered since childhood - diminished his responsibility.
"I think the generalised anxiety is relevant to the case. But the court will have to decide," she said.
Ms Vorster said that generalised anxiety disorders are not uncommon, and were not signs of mental illness.
CoweringCowering
Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius suffered "increasing levels of anxiety" during his childhood. She said that Mr Pistorius' parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent.
She said that his parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent.
"[He was] largely absent, and his mother was anxious, sleeping with a firearm under her pillow," she said."[He was] largely absent, and his mother was anxious, sleeping with a firearm under her pillow," she said.
The prosecution on Monday began by continuing its cross examination of a key ballistics expert.The prosecution on Monday began by continuing its cross examination of a key ballistics expert.
Tom Wolmarans was asked detailed questions about the order and trajectory of bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. Tom Wolmarans was asked detailed questions about the order and trajectory of bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp.
Mr Wolmarans said on Friday that Ms Steenkamp's wounds showed she may have been standing when first shot. He said that she was not in a defensive position when Mr Pistorius shot her.Mr Wolmarans said on Friday that Ms Steenkamp's wounds showed she may have been standing when first shot. He said that she was not in a defensive position when Mr Pistorius shot her.
Correspondents say that the painstaking debate over such detail reflects the defence's efforts to show that Ms Steenkamp was not arguing with Mr Pistorius at the time of the pre-dawn shooting, as the prosecution contends.Correspondents say that the painstaking debate over such detail reflects the defence's efforts to show that Ms Steenkamp was not arguing with Mr Pistorius at the time of the pre-dawn shooting, as the prosecution contends.
The prosecution alleges he shot her dead after a row and that she was cowering from him in the toilet.The prosecution alleges he shot her dead after a row and that she was cowering from him in the toilet.
The state alleges one missed and ricocheted off a wall and injured her back and that the final bullet hit her hand and head as she was sitting in a defensive position.
But Mr Wolmarans said on Friday that splinter evidence showed the model was leaning forward towards the door when the first bullet hit her hip.
The next bullet hit her arm, the third bullet her hand and the last bullet hit her head as she was falling backwards, he said.
If found guilty, Mr Pistorius - a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment.If found guilty, Mr Pistorius - a national sporting hero dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wears to race - could face life imprisonment.
If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.