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| Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Paralympian 'unlikely to fully recover' from consequences of shooting, court hears | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Oscar Pistorius has been described as "a broken man who has lost everything" by a psychologist on the first day of his sentencing hearing. | |
| Dr Lore Hartzenberg, who held psycho-therapy sessions with the double-amputee Paralympian convicted last month of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was called to testify at the hearing by the defence. | |
| The South African athlete was acquitted of pre-meditated murder and second-degree murder last month, but convicted of manslaughter - known in the South African judicial system as culpable homicide. | |
| Dr Hartzenberg told the court Pistorius was "a broken man, who has lost everything." | |
| She said Pistorius had lost "his love relationship with Miss Steenkamp" as well as his "moral and professional reputation", his friends and "his career". | |
| She said: "On an emotional level, his self-perception, his self worth and identity have been damaged to the extent that he's unlikely to fully recover from the consequences of the shooting that occurred on the 14th of February, 2013." | |
| The runner's legal team hopes to persuade Judge Thokozile Masipa to be lenient when she sentences him after what is expected to be several days of legal argument and testimony. | |
| In cross-examination prosecutor Gerrie Nell asked Dr Hartzenberg if she had spoken to the athlete about whether he was planning to resume his athletics career after the trial. | |
| Sentences for culpable homicide - negligent killing - can range from a suspended sentence and a fine to15 years in prison. | |
| Pistorius has admitted killing law graduate-turned-model Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year when he fired four shots through his toilet door. But he said it was a tragic accident and a case of mistaken identity - thinking the person in his bathroom was an intruder, and not his long-term girlfriend. | Pistorius has admitted killing law graduate-turned-model Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year when he fired four shots through his toilet door. But he said it was a tragic accident and a case of mistaken identity - thinking the person in his bathroom was an intruder, and not his long-term girlfriend. |
| The judge criticised Pistorius for acting hastily when he shot the 29-year-old. | The judge criticised Pistorius for acting hastily when he shot the 29-year-old. |
| She said: "The accused had reasonable time to think, reflect and conduct himself. The accused knew there was a person behind the toilet door, he chose to use a firearm. | She said: "The accused had reasonable time to think, reflect and conduct himself. The accused knew there was a person behind the toilet door, he chose to use a firearm. |
| "I am of the view the accused acted too hastily and used too much force. It is clear his conduct is negligent." | "I am of the view the accused acted too hastily and used too much force. It is clear his conduct is negligent." |
| Pistorius, nicknamed Blade Runner because of his prosthetic limbs, was released on bail until today's hearing in Pretoria. | Pistorius, nicknamed Blade Runner because of his prosthetic limbs, was released on bail until today's hearing in Pretoria. |
| There is considerable difference among the predictions of South African lawyers over what sentence he will receive. | There is considerable difference among the predictions of South African lawyers over what sentence he will receive. |
| Some believe he will escape jail because his lawyers will convince the judge that the disabled first-time offender would suffer particular hardship in custody, while others suggest the seriousness of the offence means a prison term is inevitable. | Some believe he will escape jail because his lawyers will convince the judge that the disabled first-time offender would suffer particular hardship in custody, while others suggest the seriousness of the offence means a prison term is inevitable. |
| George Bizos, a human rights lawyer, said: "I think that the probabilities are that the judge will send him to prison for a certain period, but not a very long one." | George Bizos, a human rights lawyer, said: "I think that the probabilities are that the judge will send him to prison for a certain period, but not a very long one." |
| Kelly Phelps, a senior public law lecturer at the University of Cape Town, claimed it was difficult to predict the outcome of the hearing because "sentencing law is so individually applied". | Kelly Phelps, a senior public law lecturer at the University of Cape Town, claimed it was difficult to predict the outcome of the hearing because "sentencing law is so individually applied". |
| Additional reporting by Press Association | Additional reporting by Press Association |