The chief prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial has told the court that a panel of mental health experts have concluded that the athlete did not have any kind of mental illness when he killed Reeva Steenkamp last year in his home.
The infamous trial has started again after a one-month recess, where a team of psychologists and psychiatrists examined the runner to see if he was in his right mind when he shot his girlfriend through his home's bathroom door.
Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel notes that the panel's report says that Pistorius was "capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act."
The evaluation of the double-amputee's mental health was ordered after the testimony by psychiatrist Dr. Merryll Vorster defended Pistorius saying that the athlete suffered from an anxiety disorder. Pistorius has stated during the trial that he had mistaken his 29-year old girlfriend for an intruder hiding in the bathroom.
The prosecution has so far built a case alleging that Pistorius had a fight with his girlfriend and because of his rage, killed Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day.
The defense on the other hand had the athlete's manager Peet van Zyl testifying that Pistorius and Steenkamp were in what he describes as " a loving and caring relationship." According to van Zyl, the two even had plans to travel to Brazil and Manchester together.
Pistorius' manager went on to say that he wanted his girlfriend to "see what [his] world is about," and requested for additional plane tickets so that Steenkamp can join him in Manchester and Brazil for his meetings.
Meanwhile the prosecution cross-examined van Zyl, asking about a report that Arnu Fourie, a South African paraolympics athlete had put in a request to be transferred out of the room he shared with Pistorius because Pistorius was constantly arguing on the phone.
Van Zyl said that he was not present at that time, but that he had heard that there was an issue between Fourie and Pistorius.
The trial continues this week, with the prosecution expected to continue their cross-examination of Pistorius' manager.
