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| Oscar Pistorius ordered to undergo mental evaluation | Oscar Pistorius ordered to undergo mental evaluation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The judge in the trial of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has ordered that he should undergo a mental evaluation. | The judge in the trial of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has ordered that he should undergo a mental evaluation. |
| She ruled that psychiatric evidence before the court could not replace "a proper enquiry" into his mental health. | She ruled that psychiatric evidence before the court could not replace "a proper enquiry" into his mental health. |
| Correspondents say the trial, which began in March, will almost certainly now face a lengthy delay. | Correspondents say the trial, which began in March, will almost certainly now face a lengthy delay. |
| The prosecution argued on Tuesday that psychiatric tests were essential and that he should be referred. | The prosecution argued on Tuesday that psychiatric tests were essential and that he should be referred. |
| But the defence vigorously opposed the move. | But the defence vigorously opposed the move. |
| Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. | Mr Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. |
| He says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder. | He says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder. |
| 'No choice' | 'No choice' |
| The BBC's Pumza Fihlani says that the judge will give the details behind her ruling on Tuesday. | The BBC's Pumza Fihlani says that the judge will give the details behind her ruling on Tuesday. |
| Our correspondent says that Mr Pistorius could be evaluated for a minimum of 30 days at a psychiatric faculty as a result of the evaluation order. | Our correspondent says that Mr Pistorius could be evaluated for a minimum of 30 days at a psychiatric faculty as a result of the evaluation order. |
| In her ruling Thokozile Masipa said that the South African criminal code stipulates that if an accused person is alleged not to be criminally responsible or is alleged to be mentally ill, he should be evaluated. | In her ruling Thokozile Masipa said that the South African criminal code stipulates that if an accused person is alleged not to be criminally responsible or is alleged to be mentally ill, he should be evaluated. |
| She said that such an evaluation would ensure that Mr Pistorius would get a fair trial, adding it would be "preferable" for him to undergo the evaluation as an outpatient. | She said that such an evaluation would ensure that Mr Pistorius would get a fair trial, adding it would be "preferable" for him to undergo the evaluation as an outpatient. |
| Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel made the referral application on Tuesday after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster said earlier that the double amputee was suffering from generalised anxiety disorder (Gad). | |
| Mr Nel said that the disorder diagnosis left him with no choice but to apply for an evaluation because the condition might have affected Mr Pistorius' behaviour on the night he killed Ms Steenkamp. | Mr Nel said that the disorder diagnosis left him with no choice but to apply for an evaluation because the condition might have affected Mr Pistorius' behaviour on the night he killed Ms Steenkamp. |
| Legal experts say that the case may well hinge on the judge's understanding of the athlete's state of mind when he pulled the trigger. | Legal experts say that the case may well hinge on the judge's understanding of the athlete's state of mind when he pulled the trigger. |
| They says the prosecution is keen to show that the defence keeps changing its reasons why Mr Pistorius fired his gun - from putative self-defence, to accidental shooting, and now to something linked to his anxiety disorder. | They says the prosecution is keen to show that the defence keeps changing its reasons why Mr Pistorius fired his gun - from putative self-defence, to accidental shooting, and now to something linked to his anxiety disorder. |