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Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled on Wednesday at the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius that the Olympic star must undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation.
She ruled that the mental health of the double-amputee athlete, who stands accused of the premeditated murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, must be assessed by a state-owned psychiatric institution.
Masipa said Pistorius would visit the institution daily as an outpatient.
``A proper inquiry, which would be more comprehensive, would inter alia ensure the accused gets a fair trial," she said.
The judge said the name of the chosen psychiatric institution and other logistical details of the order would be announced on May 20.
Masipa was granting a request made by the state prosecution after a defence witness, forensic psychiatrist Merryl Vorster, had testified that Pistorius was suffering from ``abnormal anxiety’’.
Vorster had noted that a generalised anxiety disorder could have affected Pistorius’ decisions on the night of the crime.
Pistorius, 27, shot Steenkamp four times through a closed toilet door in his home in February 2013.
She ruled that the mental health of the double-amputee athlete, who stands accused of the premeditated murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, must be assessed by a state-owned psychiatric institution.
Masipa said Pistorius would visit the institution daily as an outpatient.
``A proper inquiry, which would be more comprehensive, would inter alia ensure the accused gets a fair trial," she said.
The judge said the name of the chosen psychiatric institution and other logistical details of the order would be announced on May 20.
Masipa was granting a request made by the state prosecution after a defence witness, forensic psychiatrist Merryl Vorster, had testified that Pistorius was suffering from ``abnormal anxiety’’.
Vorster had noted that a generalised anxiety disorder could have affected Pistorius’ decisions on the night of the crime.
Pistorius, 27, shot Steenkamp four times through a closed toilet door in his home in February 2013.
