Author Topic: Experts say Pistorius wasn't mentally ill when he shot girlfriend  (Read 451 times)

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Offline flowers

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http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/30/experts-say-pistorius-wasnt-mentally-ill-during-girlfriend-killing/

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PRETORIA, South Africa –  A panel of mental health experts has concluded that Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental illness when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home last year, the chief prosecutor at the athlete's murder trial said Monday.

Pistorius' trial resumed after a break of one month during which a psychologist and three psychiatrists also assessed whether the double-amputee runner was capable of understanding the wrongfulness of his act when he shot Steenkamp through a closed toilet door.

The panel's reports were submitted to Judge Thokozile Masipa, and prosecutor Gerrie Nel referred to key parts of the conclusions, noting that the experts believed Pistorius was "capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act" when he killed Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model.

The evaluation came after a psychiatrist, Dr. Merryll Vorster, testified for the defense that Pistorius, who has said he feels vulnerable because of his disability and long-held worry about crime, had an anxiety disorder that could have contributed to the killing in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. He testified that he opened fire after mistakenly thinking there was a dangerous intruder in the toilet.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has alleged that Pistorius, 27, killed Steenkamp after a Valentine's Day argument, and has portrayed the Olympic athlete as a hothead with a love of guns and an inflated sense of entitlement. But he requested an independent inquiry into Pistorius' state of mind, based on concern the defense would argue Pistorius was not guilty because of mental illness.

Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder, and could also face years in prison if convicted of murder without premeditation or negligent killing. He is free on bail.


Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Experts say Pistorius wasn't mentally ill when he shot girlfriend
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2014, 06:15:19 pm »
I believe the hothead scenario. He simply got uncontrollably pissed over something, and decided to show her who was boss.

Of course he regrets that and concocts the cover story of the burglars. No live witnesses except himself, his word against--nobody else's word.

To me it is first degree murder, but he'll probably get less. Too bad he is trying to use his birth defect, to gain pity in court.

"God must love the common man, he made so many of them.�  Abe Lincoln