Oscar Pistorius sentencing underway
“Oscar scored high for paranoia, depression and anxiety and seems to have lost all sense of hope. He had a traumatic experience in prison."
The sentencing for murder of paralympian Oscar Pistorius began at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria on Monday morning with some of his supporters showing up despite the cold weather.
The court was packed with journalists, along with Pistorius’ family and those of his deceased girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Proceedings got underway with Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux introducing Dr Jonathan Scholtz, a psychologist from the Weskoppies Psychiatric hospital and the University of Pretoria.
Scholtz read a report on the mental state of Pistorius, stating that his psychological condition had deteriorated.
“That’s what we got from the psychologists report. He is more stressed and anxious and highly depressed,” Scholtz said.
He said he first assessed Pistorius in 2014 and then again after he was convicted of murder.
According to the report, Pistorius had a high score for paranoia, depression and anxiety and seems to have lost all sense of hope.
Scholtz said Pistorius had a traumatic experience in prison where his stumps got infection from the floor of prison showers.
Rape and suicide inside prison walls also unsettled the athlete.
An emotional Pistorius was crying, burying his head in his hands when Scholtz read the report.
Before the court adjourned for tea, Scholtz recommended that Pistorius be hospitalised.
Pistorius has been convicted of killing Steenkamp when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home in February 2013.
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