Oscar Pistorius traumatised and ‘at risk of suicide’
The Oscar Pistorius murder trial hears that he poses a suicide risk and needs to continue receiving mental health treatment, as a report from psychiatrists is read out in court.
A psychiatric report assessing Pistorius’s mental health concluded that the athlete was not mentally ill, as the court heard on Monday.
But on Wednesday, it emerged that he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkmap last year.
Reading from the report, Defence Lawyer Barry Roux said that the Paralympic sports star had been “severely traumatised” by the incident, and added that he suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder, and a major depressive disorder.
“Mr Pistorius is being treated and should continue to receive clinical care by a psychiatrist, and by a clinical psychologist, for his condition,” the report read. “Should he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen, and increase the risk for suicide.”
Mr Roux also pointed out that psychiatrists found no instances of narcissism or psychopathy, and that he had a normal loving relationship with Steenkamp.
However the prosecution retorted by reading out different parts of the report, compiled by three psychiatrists and one psychologist who monitored the accused for 30 days, including the conclusion that he was well enough to bear criminal responsibility for shooting Steenkamp. Mr Nel said it was crucial to note that Pistorius may be suffering from anxiety now, but had no mental disorder at the time of the shooting.
After excerpts of the psychiatric report was read out in court, journalists were handed copies of the full report, and tweeted details and photos of the document. However later in the day, the judge upheld complaints by Pistorius’s family and ruled that any details which were not read out in court, should not be made public, because of the information about wider family.
Pistorius says the shooting in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year was a terrible mistake, and that he thought an intruder had broken into his home. However the prosecution alleges that he shot in anger after an argument.
The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation after an expert witness said that his actions that night may have been influenced by the fact that he suffered from an anxiety disorder.
Throughout the trial, the accused has sobbed and retched into a bucket, in apparent distress at some of the evidence. During his days on the stand, he often broke down in tears, and had to take regular breaks when describing what happened. But during cross-examination, Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested that Pistorius was faking his distress.
Pistorius an ‘anxious individual’
Earlier on Wedneday, Professor Wayne Derman, who specialises in disability sports, described Pistorius as a very “anxious individual” and said that he had an exaggerated “fight or flight” response.
Pistorius’s manager Peet van Zyl also returned to the stand, and was challenged by Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel over previous comments that Steenkamp, who had been dating Pistorius for three months, was the first girlfriend that the athlete had wanted to accompany him on trips abroad.
Mr Nel showed court an email proving that Pistorius had previously asked for his ex, Sam Taylor, to come away with him. He also showed evidence that the accused had called her his “little butterfly” – adding that Steenkamp was not the only girlfriend that he had pet names for, and asserting that he was in love with Ms Taylor.
An letter Pistorius sent to Ms Taylor was read out in court. It read: “I don’t even feel like going to London if you cannot go with me… It took me a long time to admit it to myself that I was in love with you Sam.”
The court also heard about a statement released overnight by the fellow Paralympian athlete Arnu Fourie who had been sharing a room with Pistorius during the 2012 London Games, and asked to be moved into his own room. A newspaper report from the time said that he had asked to be moved because “Oscar was constantly screaming in anger at people on the phone”.
However Mr Nel pointed out that in no point during the statement did Mr Fourie deny Pistorius’s behaviour.
Regarding all the questions after the #oscarpistorius trial today. See attached statement. pic.twitter.com/LVZ35FgQVs
— Arnu Fourie (@arnufourie) July 1, 2014