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Oscar Pistorius has 'anxiety disorder since childhood' Oscar Pistorius has 'anxiety disorder since childhood'
(35 minutes later)
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.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.
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".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".
The prosecution has now asked that he is referred for mental observation.
The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp.The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp.
The defence is expected to conclude its case by the end of the week. 'Fight rather than flight'
Both sides are then expected to have an opportunity to present their closing arguments. The BBC's Milton Nkosi says it is as if tectonic plates are shifting at the trial as the prosecution moves towards getting permission from the judge for Mr Pistorius to be mentally assessed. The defence opposes the application and both sides are arguing their case before the judge.
Correspondents say that if the prosecution's application succeeds, Mr Pistorius may spend up to 30 days in a state mental health institution for observation and assessment of his mental health.
It was expected that the defence would conclude its case by the end of this week - after which both sides would have an opportunity to present their closing arguments.
Mr Pistorius says he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp 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 through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.
Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with "fight" rather than "flight".Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Vorster said that Mr Pistorius was more likely to respond to any threat with "fight" rather than "flight".
She said that he felt remorse over Ms Steenkamp's death. The anxiety disorder was the result of surgery at the age of 11 months to remove his lower legs, she said, a "traumatic assault" for an infant at that age.
She 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."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".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.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."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.Ms Vorster said that generalised anxiety disorders are not uncommon, and were not signs of mental illness.
Safety measures at his home were "out of proportion" to the threat of crime in South Africa, she said.Safety measures at his home were "out of proportion" to the threat of crime in South Africa, she said.
Cowering 'Danger to society'
She said that Mr Pistorius' parents separated when he was six and his father was not a responsible parent.She said that Mr Pistorius' 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.
She said that his mother's death in March 2002 meant that he lost an "emotional attachment figure".She said that his mother's death in March 2002 meant that he lost an "emotional attachment figure".
The prosecution on Monday began by continuing its cross examination of a key ballistics expert. State prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that he would seek advice on whether Mr Pistorius was mentally ill and whether he should be referred by the court for assessment and observation.
Tom Wolmarans was asked detailed questions about the order and trajectory of bullets that killed Ms Steenkamp. He asked Ms Vorster whether someone with anxiety disorder plus guns would be "a danger to society".
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. "Yes," she replied.
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.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa, assisted by two assessors.There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa, assisted by two assessors.
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.