The gold medallist’s original manslaughter conviction for the 2013 killing was overturned and he now faces a week-long sentencing hearing.
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Last year, Judge Thokozile Masipa found him guilty not of murder but manslaughter, saying the state had failed to prove he had meant to kill either Steenkamp or an intruder.
Pistorius was also now traumatised by the sound gunfire, even in a film, and never wanted to go near a firearm again.
Mr Nel said Pistorius shown no remorse for the murder, and he only “feels sorry for himself”.
Scholtz said he was not aware of any “temper tantrums and aggressive behaviour” by Pistorius while he was in prison.
Prosecutors rejected his claims. He said he did not think Pistorius would be able to testify at the sentencing hearing because of his psychological problems. Barry and June Steenkamp, the parents of the model Pistorius killed by shooting multiple times through a toilet door in his home in 2013, were also present.
“Since the offense he has developed a serious psychiatric condition which has become worse over the past two years”, said Scholtz, who last saw the double-amputee in a psychiatric hospital.
While the state has highlighted a violent outburst by Pistorius in prison, his defence team has described the incident as an expression of frustration at being denied over-the-counter medication. “I find in your report you are biased towards the accused”. But that manslaughter conviction was overturned a year ago by South Africa’s Supreme Court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder.
State prosecutors who lodged the appeal say Pistorius meant to kill Steenkamp and that the law graduate and model had fled to the toilet during an argument.
He was released from prison last October after nearly a year behind bars and allowed to serve out his term under house arrest on his uncle’s property in a suburb of Pretoria.
He told the hearing, which was attended by Steenkamp’s mother, that Pistorius had suffered financially and found asking others for assistance humiliating.
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel will cross-examine and call his own witnesses as he seeks to convince Masipa that Pistorius is not remorseful – a key consideration in sentencing – and that it is in the interest of South African justice that the athlete receives a lengthy jail term.
Nel challenged Scholtz on some of the claims.
Outside the court, a group held up placards backing the athlete, one of them with the message: “Worldwide supporters of Oscar Pistorius”.
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The upgrade to murder necessitated the new sentencing hearing. “We are calling for the 15 years without parole”, Ms. Mofokeng added.
