9:56 am
Roux has no further questions for Wolamarans - which means we're due another witness.

9:55 am
Wolamarans says that if someone were to fire four shots, he would not expect them to all come from the same position.

He points out that recoil mean the shooter's hands, or hand, would never stay in the same spot.

9:51 am
During the adjournment Roux says he asked someone to sit on the magazine rack so Wolmarans could explain marks on Steenkamp's back.

Roux is questioning how much energy would be left in a ricocheting bullet.

9:49 am
We're back. Wolmarans has confirmed he is still under oath.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Roux asks Wolmarans if he could set up shot and bat sound tests for the "Court" to view LIVE.

I HOPE that happens

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Next witness Dr Vorster.... a shrink

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

10:21 am
Vorster says a strict diet and Pistorius's training regime helped control his anxiety - but growing fame and media attention will have made it harder.

10:18 am
Vorster says loss of mother at the age of 14 was "traumatic" for Pistorius, and led to an increase in his anxiety.

She goes on to state it is her opinion that the runner has an 'anxiety disorder' - something he will have had to manage as he became more famous and more exposed.

10:11 am
Vorster was asked to evaluate the mental condition of Pistorius and his likely condition at the time of the shooting.

She adds that she also interviewed family members.

On the amputation of Pistorius's legs, she says it would have happened at a pre-language stage of his life. At the age of six, his parents divorced.

Vorster says his father was "irresponsible and mostly absent" and Pistorius's mother slept with a firearm under her pillow.

10:07 am
Sterkfontein, where Vorster worked, is a state psychiatric hospital where alleged criminally insane patients are evaluated.

10:03 am
Rouxhas asked Vorster to submit her CV and report to the court.

10:02 am
Dr Meryl Vorster is now being sworn in.

She is a psychiatrist and vice-dean at The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, according to Medpages.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

tea-break

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

11:32 am
The current adjournment will take the place of the normal lunch break.

11:32 am
Vorster: "If one became paranoid about individuals or threats – to believe that there were threats when there weren’t any – then I would say it’s a mental illness.

"But generalised anxiety disorder is not an uncommon disorder and doesn’t imply that one has lost capacity or lost touch with reality."

11:31 am
She said Pistorius's condition was different to 'normal' offenders as he was suffering with anxiety as was also disabled.

But although she said this does not constitute a mental illness - his reaction to situations would be different because of it.

11:26 am
During questioning, Nel asked if Pistorius’s anxiety could have affected his ability to see the difference between right and wrong.

Vorster stressed that was not what she was implying.

11:24 am
Nel has asked for an adjournment to examine Vorster’s report.

11:18 am
Roux has finished his questioning - it is now the turn of Nel.

10:59 am
Vorster says Pistorius has been depressed since the shooting and showed no signs of depression before it.

10:51 am
Pistorius was a public figure and this made him think he was at increased risk of crime, according to Vorster.

Because of this, the runner often invited friends over to stay.

She says Pistorius is particularly concerned about safety and security - this fear is made worse by his anxiety.

She adds that by having increased anxiety, you may perceive surroundings to be more threatening or dangerous than they actually are.

10:46 am
We are back in Pretoria. Roux is now talking to Vorster about past medical history.

She talks about his amputations at 11 months.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Nel has got himself all worked up and confused

I think Nel needs a shrink?

He has gone nuts. He has an hour adjournment to consider issues around getting OP evaluated as "insane" (diminished responsibility at the time of the event)

Nel misses the point!!!

The Generalised Anxiety Disorder DOES bolster the defence "version" of what transpired... that is it!!!!

It explains why OP was more likely to think there was an intuder. It explains why he opted for "fight" over "flight"... it is great circumstantial evidence for the defence version. NOBODY is suggesting that OP acted in an "insane" way.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Break...... and it counts as "lunch"

LUNCH

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

1:38 pm
At the request of Nel, proceedings have been adjourned until tomorrow.

1:35 pm
We're back in Pretoria.

1:30 pm
Nel says he cannot complete his cross-examination until the court has decided whether or not to refer Pistorius for mental observation.

However, he says he will stand down now and allow Roux to re-examine.

A 10-minute adjournment has been granted.

1:22 pm
Roux, on the other hand, says the application should never be heard.

1:21 pm
Gerrie Nel would like to make an application for a mental examination of Pistorius.

Beforehand, Barry Roux wants to re-question his witness - Nel says he is happy for him to do that.

1:16 pm
Nel is now asking for an adjounrment.

Vorster has been excused - but is told by the judge she may have to come back today.

1:14 pm
Vorster agrees with Nel that someone with generalised anxiety disorder may be dangerous with a gun.

1:13 pm
Nel is suggesting with his questioning that Pistorius will not take responsibility for the death of Steenkamp.

He asks Vorster about her use of the phrase “he feels remorse for having caused the death of Steenkamp” - rather than feeling remorse for 'having killed' her.

12:54 pm
Vorster: "Having a generalised anxiety disorder could have affected his decisions at the time if he was afraid."

Nel is 'struggling to understand' the difference between an anxiety disorder and a mental illness.

12:48 pm
Nel is aguing that there is no point in Vorster's evidence being put before the court if Pistorius does not have a 'real' mental illness.

For the evidence to be taken seriously, he says, Pistorious should be the subject of a mental examination.

12:30 pm
Vorster, after being asked by Nel, says she has not been following the trial very closely.

12:29 pm
We are back in the courtroom.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The State vs Oscar Pretorius (Murder 1)



Trial Day 31

Start 9:30 AM Tuesday (5-13-14)

9:00AM J/Burg ----> 3:00AM ET ----> 2:00AM CT ---->1:00AM MT ---->12:00AM PT
(Times amended to include US clocks moved one hour forward)





Links for Live Streaming

telegraph.co.uk: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... trial.html

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Mirror.co.uk: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... es-3201648




Twitter

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Factual Updates https://twitter.com/OscarHardTruth

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Live Blog

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telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -live.html

dailymaverick: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Daily Mirror - Live Blog

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ve-3533390


7:28 am
Yesterday it was revealed that Pistorius could face psychiatric tests which could potentially delay the trial by another month.

During cross-examination of Dr Meryl Vorster there was confusion over the difference between an anxiety disorder and a mental illness.

He compared the runner's state of mind to post traumatic stress disorder and said the law now requires psychiatric observation.

The move may force the court into considering an insanity defence - even though the athlete's legal team is not mounting one.

Nel and his prosecution team is now preparing an application. If the request is granted, Pistorius may spend up to 30 days in a state mental health institution.

7:20 am
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the trial of Oscar Pistorius.

We are expecting to hear more about the athlete's mental health state at the time of the shooting and in the time since.

Dr Meryl Vorster, a forensic psychiatrist and vice-dean at The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, conducted interviews with Pistorius, his friends and family between May 2 and 7 this year - after the runner had completed five days of testimony.

Vorster was asked to evaluate the mental condition of Pistorius and his likely condition at the time of the shooting.

No explanation was given as to why he wasn't assessed in the 16 months leading up to the trial.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Late start.. what a surprise

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

8:48 am
Nel points out that ex girlfriends say they have never noticed or mentioned the anxiety.

Vorster says that even Pistorius and his family did not realise that he had GAD.

8:47 am
Vorster says he wasn't suffering from it severely. He was competing at a high level and able to socialise.

He had distress because of it, but was able to live a normal life.

Vorster says it may be relevant to his version of the events of February 14. "That's for the court to decide".

8:45 am
Vorster says there are levels of severity with the disorder. It can be mild or severe.

Nel asks if it's serious enough and affects a person severely, it could be seen as a mental illness.

Vorster says "I wouldn't say that". She says that if it's severe, it may impact on the capacity to live a normal lifestyle.

One has to look at the impact of the diagnosis on that individuals ability to have a normal life.

8:43 am
She says the sufferer will see situations in a light more serious than they actually are.

They cause sleep disorders, nausea, vomiting, distractability... a lot of symptoms.

8:42 am
Dr Vorster says it impairs social and occupational functioning. Confirms that would affect his family and professional life.

Nel asks if it's common.

Dr Vorster says it is not an uncommon disorder.

Nel says to raise it to the level of a 'disorder' would need something extra.

Vorster says there needs to be anxiety "more often than not for an extended period of time"

8:40 am
Court has resumed and Psychiatrist Merryll Vorster has taken to the stand.

Nel says that today he will be dealing with the report and diagnosis as she made it.

He says the diagnosis "GAD" is the diagnosis that spanned over Pistorius's functioning in general.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:12 am
Nel refers to report by educational and industrial psychologist Dr Holmes that Vorster referred to in her report.

Vorster said that that report confirmed the history she had obtained and test results.

She said it was a source of useful information. She didn't look at it in great detail.

9:11
Vorster: when she drafted the report she believes it could also be used for sentencing.

9:08 am
Vorster says there would be increased stress in the person with GAD.

She says it is very common and can range between 1 and 6 per cent of people.

She says they live their lives normally and you can't see it.

9:05 am
Vorster says Pistoirus would have a raised anxiety level when he was stopped on the way back from Vaal.

She confirms you would expect a person with GAD would be worried about getting in trouble.

9:01 am
Nel says a person with GAD would close the door themselves.

Vorster says not necessarily.

9:00 am
Nel says someone with GAD would not be able to go to sleep with a balcony door open, and not secured and locked.

Vorster says "I can't answer yes, because it depends who they are living with." If they are on their own then it is their responsibility.

If they are with someone else they can rely on them.

Nel says we aren't dealing with an anxious person. It's someone with GAD.

8:59 am
Vorster agrees that a person with GAD would ensure that their alarm system was working.

8:58 am
Nel asks if someone with GAD would be concerned about the ladder being left outside.

Vorster confirms that it wouldn't be normal for a person with GAD to leave them unsecure.

8:55 am
Nel says there was a broken window with no burglar proofing and it was left like that for days.

Vorster says there were beams and other measures.

Nel says that is from the perspective of a normal person, not someone with GAD.

Vorster says you wouldn't expect them to leave it for a prolonged time period.

8:54 am
Nel asks if there is someone with GAD, wouldn't they take steps to protect the rest of his house so nobody could enter.

Vorster agrees.

8:53 am
Nel says most people have burglar alarms and dogs. Some people have beams. Why is it an exception for him?

Vorster said that most people don't sleep with their bedroom doors locked.

Nel says she is showing a level of impartiality because it's not extraordinary.

Vorster disagrees and says she was looking to assess if Pistorius was paranoid. She says he isn't paranoid but his concerns were more than that of the average South African.

8:51 am
Vorster confirms that Pistorius was anxious about crime in South Africa and he took that into account in his report.

Nel asks about his security measures being increased.

She says that he increased his security at his town house after a burglary and moved to a safer area. He added security measures and had dogs along with beams around his house and would also lock himself in his bedroom at night.

He said he wanted to move from that house and move to Johannesburg because he no longer felt safe.

Vorster says that his security measures were more than the average South African.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:21 am
Vorster confirms that Pistorius had shot and killed Reeva and that her report may have been used for sentencing.

She says that people suffering from GAD are not "dangerous, as such". She said that they probably shouldn't have firearms.

That's where it becomes dangerous.

9:19 am
Vorster says if there had been an argument then he would have increased anxiety.

She confirms that GAD could play a role during the build up before the shooting.

She says all people get anxious in arguments. That is the nature of an argument.

9:17 am
Vorster says she was given a transcript of Pistorius's testimony and she could only go off his version.

Nel asks if the different versions would have affected the diagnosis of whether GAD played a role.

Vorster says it would not have changed. The diagnosis remains a constant along with the vulnterability. It is for the court to say what the facts are.

9:15 am
Nel asks if it would have been better to have all version of events.

Vorster agrees, but she says it is for the court to decide what the truth is.

9:14 am
She says the report confirmed her findings.

Nel asks if the purpose was forensic or therapeutic. She believes it was forensic.

Vorster confirms she has come to her findings based on Pistorius's version of events.

Nel asks if it's impartial. Vorster says no, it was based on his version and it's for the court to decide on the facts of the case.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:37 am
Nel asks why she elevated the anxiety of Pistorius to a disorder.

Clinically he presents as someone with a disorder.

Vorster says he appears to have a disorder and with the history you can see the symptoms along with information from his family and manager.

9:35 am
It's dust being sprayed outside.

9:35 am
There's now a strange smell in the court.

Vorster said "something's burning".

The court orderly has been asked to check what it is.

9:34 am
Vorster says if he had been seen by a mental health specialist at that time then a diagnosis of GAD might have been made.

But he concealed it as it developed over time.

9:33 am
Vorster says Pistorius's "primary attachment figure" was his mother and he would have needed her when she died when he was developing as a teenager.

She also never got to see the development of his career.

Nel says that all children would be anxious if they lost their mother. He points out that he coped well at school.

Vorster says he spent time with his paternal aunt and still did well at school.

9:30 am
Vorster says that as Pistorius's stresses increased throughout his life, his anxiety would have increased.

She says his exams during matriculation would have provoked some anxiety.

Vorster confirms that every child losing their mother would be upset and anxious.

9:28 am
Vorster says it would hvae been stressful for Pistorius to appear as though he did not have a disability.

She says he could have suffered it for years without knowing he had it.

It developed over time.

9:27 am
At the age of 17 months he functioned normally at the creche. He coped well at school and was able to pass every year, competing in sport.

No problems with his academic performance.

Nel asks why it would have contributed to his anxiety disorder and if he would be able to suppress it at 14.

Vorster says that his family encouraged him to appear as normal and that would have been stressful to do.

9:24 am
Vorster confirms that Pistorius's GAD started when he was 11 months old after his legs were amputated.

Vorster agrees that it would have been advantageous to speak to Pistorius's father.

He coped at nursery when he was a child. Nel points out that children would not have the ability to control anxiety as well and would not be able to supress it.

Vorster says it would have been a contributing factor to the GAD, not GAD itself.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

9:49 am
Nel asks for an early tea adjournment so that he can talk to his team.

The court adjourns for 25 minutes. They are tying it in with the morning tea break.

9:48 am
Vorster says she would not expect him to remember with clarity what happened at the time.

She says that as a psychatrist she would not expect him to remember every detail.

Nel says another explanation is that he could be lying.

Vorster agrees.

9:47 am
Vorster says that he is still described as having been extremely frightened by the perceived threat.

Whether he remembered firing the shot, he may have found it difficult.

Nel picks up on the word "remembered". Vorster says if he fired at the noise or randomly in the room she would not be concerned.

9:45 am
Nel says Pistorius denied firing at the noise.

Vorster says this is what Pistorius told her.

She said he was scared and that he fired at the noise.

She said that it would appear to be an inconsistency.

9:43 am
Vorster says that if the court finds he deliberately shot Reeva, GAD would not play a role other than in sentencing.

Her findings would be relevant if the court found he had host at what he believed to be an intruder.

9:42 am
Vorster says that many young men struggle to make new friends.

Vorster says GAD is common.

Vorster repeats that it is for the court to decide what role GAD played in the facts of the case.

9:40 am
Vorster says he describes himself as a lonely person.

He says his newer friends he had to avoid being lonely. They were not people he could confide in - they were company to keep him from being alone.

His sexual relationships were quite short too.

He functioned socially, but not optimally and not adequately.

9:39 am
Vorster says his court appearance anxiety would not be taken into account in his diagnosis.

Nel asks if it was actually the impending case that made him anxious.

Vorster says no.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Tea Break Nel.... wants a break... and then a tea break... so what the hell... lets make it an early tea break... and a long one at that !!



tea-break

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light