Convicted murderer and former Olympian Oscar Pistorius is a “broken” man who should hospitalized instead of jailed, a psychologist testifying in his defense said Monday at a sentencing hearing in South Africa, the BBC reported. But the manslaughter conviction was overturned a year ago by South Africa’s Supreme Court which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder, which carries longer jail sentences.
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Judge Thokozile Masipa, who made the wrong legal call in sentencing Pistorius in 2014 according to the Supreme Court of Appeal, is overseeing the proceedings with sentencing expected on Friday.
“His condition is severe”, Scholtz said.
Pistorius had also had temper tantrums in jail and had once banged a table when he got upset with a nurse, Mr Nel said, asking Dr Scholtz why he had ignored Pistorius’ actions. His counterpart on the Steenkamp side, Reeva’s father Barry, wore a white Panama hat, with a red and dark blue band.
It will be the second time Pistorius has been sentenced for the killing, following a judge’s earlier ruling that he was guilty of the lesser charge of negligent homicide.
He faces a jail term of at least 15 years, but his sentence can be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors.
FILE – In this November 4, 2012 file photo, South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp arrive for an awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He said that Pistorius, a known gun collector, never wanted to touch or handle a firearm again and that he had sold all his weapons.
He was initially sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter but an appeals court rejected the verdict and convicted him of murder. Scholtz testified that Pistorius was subjected to several “traumatic and humiliating experiences” in prison, including being forced to shower while sitting on the concrete floor because of his disability. “It would be better if he gave back in constructive ways – using his skills to enhance the lives of others [carrying out community service]”.
Scholtz admitted that Pistorius had access to a gym and concrete courtyard and that Radovan Krejcir was in the same section with him, but said Pistorius was still mostly alone and the gym was not well equipped.
Prosecutor Nel challenged Scholtz on some of those claims surrounding Pistorius’ imprisonment.
“I’m not saying that he’s not verbally, angry or aggressive at times, but I’m saying he’s not a violent person in nature”, said Scholtz.
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Witnesses at the trial in 2014 say they heard “bloodcurdling screams” coming from a woman in Pistorius’ home, followed by shots on the night of her murder.
