Oscar Pistorius a 'broken man', argues defence on first day of sentencing
By Associated Press
Last Updated: 13/06/16 3:55pm
The defence of Oscar Pistorius argued the Paralympian was mentally unwell and should be in hospital not jail during the opening day of his trial this week.
A psychologist testified on Monday in Pretoria stating Pistorius was a "broken man" and was suffering from "major depression" as the South African athlete's sentencing hearing for murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp got under way.
Catch up on the first day as it happened on the Sky News blog.
Pistorius is currently under house arrest after serving one year of a five-year sentence after being found guilty in 2014 of manslaughter for killing Steenkamp in 2103. But the manslaughter conviction was overturned last year by South Africa's Supreme Court which convicted him of the more serious charge of murder, which carries longer jail sentences.
His lawyers are arguing for some leniency from a judge when she decides his sentence.
South Africa has a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, although a judge can reduce that in some circumstances. The sentencing hearing is scheduled to run until Friday.
Judge Thokozile Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder at his trial, will decide his new sentence.
Called by Pistorius' defence lawyers, psychologist Jonathan Scholtz said Pistorius was "quite ill" and struggled with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Scholtz evaluated Pistorius in 2014, during his murder trial, and again in May this year.
"Mr. Pistorius' condition has worsened since 2014," Scholtz testified. He said Pistorius was now "despondent and lethargic, disinvested, and leaves his future in the hands of God."
He added that he did not think Pistorius would be able to testify at the sentencing hearings because of his psychological problems.
Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel challenged this at the start of his cross-examination of Scholtz, pointing out that Pistorius had recently given a TV interview, and yet claimed to be unable to testify in court.
Prosecutors had depicted Pistorius as an arrogant figure with a sense of entitlement and a love of guns. On Monday, Nel subjected Scholtz to sharp questioning, getting him to acknowledge that someone suffering from the same stress disorder as Pistorius could become irritated and agitated.
Pistorius, who made history in 2012 by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics sat calmly on a bench during the testimony, mostly with his head down.
During an adjournment before Nel began his cross-examination of Scholtz, Pistorius spoke briefly to defence lawyer Barry Roux and made a call on a mobile phone.
The gallery was packed with relatives, journalists and other onlookers. Police officers lined the wood-panelled walls of the courtroom.
Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of the model Pistorius killed by shooting multiple times through a toilet door in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine's Day 2013, were also present in court.
Catch up on the first day as it happened on the Sky News blog.
