This is just one of his defence’s angles brought on day one of his sentencing hearing in the Pretoria High Court.
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“In laymen terms, one could say he is a broken man”, he said, but submitted that Pistorius was “not anti-social or psychopathic”. “In my opinion his current condition warrants hospitalisation”.
Pistorius was also now traumatised by the sound gunfire, even in a film, and never wanted to go near a firearm again.
Barry Steenkamp and June Steenkamp sit in the Pretoria High Court on September 11, 2014, in Pretoria, South Africa.
Nel asked Scholtz how, given Pistorius’s outbursts, could he work with children.
“I have access to the complaints register‚ he complained often and about everything‚” Nel said.
Scholtz said Pistorius’ time in jail had left him suffering like “an animal in a cage”. “Mr Pistorius does not have the personality characteristics usually associated with antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy”, Dr Jonathan Scholtz told court today. I would like to test it, not through you.
Pistorius was now “despondent and lethargic, disinvested, and leaves his future in the hands of God”, Scholtz said. Three witnesses are expected to testify though it’s unlikely that Pistorius himself will be called to the stand a second time.
Pistotrius 29 was initially sentenced to five years for Manslaughter in 2014, but had his conviction overturned last December when state lawyers appealed the matter after he was released on parole after serving only one year in prison.
The blade-runner athlete has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder. The appeals court found that Pistorius must have known that firing four high-powered bullets would kill anyone in the cubicle and he was therefore guilty of murder.
Pistorius faces up to 15 years in prison for murder but experts have said that he may receive a lighter sentence due to his time in jail and other factors like his mental health, disability and good behavior.
The original trial judge Thokozile Masipa is expected to pass a new sentence after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence.
Five days have been set aside for the hearing. There is no further appeal.
The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime.
And some rights groups have said the white athlete has received preferential treatment.
Experts say a custodial sentence seems nearly unavoidable but factors such as his mental fragility, disability and good behaviour may lead to a reduced jail term.
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Pistorius was released from prison in October 2014 after serving almost 12 months in jail and is now residing at his uncle’s in Pretoria under house arrest.
