Prosecutor requests psychiatric evaluation for Oscar Pistorius

On Tuesday, the chief prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial requested that the sprint runner receive a psychiatric evaluation.

According to the Associated Press, prosecutor Gerrie Nel has requested that Pistorius be placed under psychiatric evaluation at a government facility.

After his request, Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned court and said she would rule on whether or not to order that the athlete undergo an evaluation by Wednesday.

As The Independent noted, Nel’s request comes after the defense had psychiatrist Dr. Merryll Vorster testify that Pistorius suffers from anxiety, which could have led to his actions on Valentine’s Day 2013.

On Monday, Vorster argued that the Paralympian’s actions the day he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, should be “seen in the context of his anxiety.”

Pistorius is accused of intentionally killing the model after the two had an argument. However, he contends that he shot only Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder. He has plead not guilty to murder.

Should he be ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, the trial could be delayed for several weeks.

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