Oscar Pistorius did not suffer from a mental defect or illness the night that he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp the court heard on Monday.

Pistorius was assessed as an outpatient over 30 days at the Weskoppies psychiatric hospital to determine if a generalised anxiety disorder played a part in his actions on the night he shot Steenkamp.

The report of a panel of medical professionals who evaluated Pistorius was handed to Judge Thokozile Masipa on Monday.

Pistorius defence team called their next witness Dr Gerry Versfeld, an orthopaedic surgeon, who amputated Pistorius’s legs as a baby.

Versfeld examined Pistorius in May this year.

Versfeld told the court that Pistorius has difficulty walking on his stumps.

“He told me needs his arms for balance while on stumps. He falls at least once a week when walking only on his stumps. Pistorius falls mostly because of his left stump.”

Versfeld asked Pistorius to take of his prostheses in court so he could explain and demonstrate why it is difficult for Pistorius to balance on his stumps.

According to Versfeld Pistorius relies on light to balance on his stumps.

“On his stumps, in a danger situation, his ability to flee is severely impaired and his ability to ward off danger is severely impaired,” Versfeld said.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel hit back during cross-examination and argued that Pistorius was able to move around the house on his stumps the night of the shooting without ever mentioning that he fell.

Nel also argued that Pistorius was able to move on his stumps and hold a gun at the same time.

Nel also questioned Versfeld on Pistorius would be able to move on his stumps in ‘pitch black darkness’after he told Versfeld that he relies on light to balance.

Roux asked the court on Mondays to order the State to hand over cord which was taken from Pistorius’ house.

“The state took ‘possession’ of the house, so they should explain about cord.”

Nel responded by saying the State never seized the cord.
“We cannot make it available, it’s not on the inventory of seized items,” Nel said.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said she’s not happy about this before she ordered that the person who was responsible for sealing the house of Pistorius to provide an explanation about cord.

Just before lunch on Monday Roux called his next witness, Ivan Lin, an acoustic expert.

Lin has compiled a report entitled ‘Can one reliably differentiate between a male and female voice from 80-177m away respectively?

Advocate Gerrie Nel asked that the matter be postponed until Tuesday before he starts his cross-examination. Court was expected to resume at 09:30 on Tuesday.

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