Daily Mirror - Live Blog


8:17 am
Journalist Stuart Norval says the psychiatrists may have to testify today if they don't agree on their report.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ve-3787149

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They're of.....

First witness... giving qualifications etc. Witness image not broadcast

Dr Gerald Alexander Versfeld....

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8:40 am
Barry Roux is calling his next witness.

He is a doctor called Gerald Alexander Versfeld.

He will not be filmed by court cameras.

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I had to restart computer... now I see court "seal"?? Dont tell me Nel has asked for a tea break already?

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9:01 am
Dr Versfeld is talking through the mechanics of Pistorius' stumps and how they work.

Judge Masipa isn't following and wants some more explanation.

We're going to have a short adjournment so that the defence can set up a demonstration for her and her assistants.

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Back. Witness doing a demo... but we can not see what he is doing


9:09 am
We're back underway.

The demonstration cannot be filmed because the witness is subject to the order preventing him being photographed.

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9:29 am
Dr Versfeld says Pistorius has a "severe problem with balancing" if he is holding something in two hands.

This is in reference to him carrying the cricket bat which was used to hit the toilet door.

Dr Versfeld says Pistorius would have to have the bat in one hand and use the other to swing the bat at a door.

Pistorius would be likely to fall over, he says.

9:26 am
Dr Versfeld isa saying Pistorius' ability to flee in a situation of danger would be "severely impaired" by the instability of his stumps.

He would have trouble turning around and running from danger, he says.

He describes him as "vulnerable".

9:23 am
Court resumes as Dr Versfeld makes his conclusions about Pistorius' stumps.

He's a very slow, methodical speaker.

9:18 am
The judge has seen the demo and is returning to her seat.

The Pistorius family are back in court today.

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Nel has NOT acquired any manners or class... what a shit he is!

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9:32 am
Gerrie Nel on the cross-examination now.

He says he was brought in as a witness after Pistorius had given evidence.

Nel asks Dr Versfeld if he followed Pistorius' evidence in court.

He says he didn't follow it closely but he had a good idea of his version of events.

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I think the Judge should sentence Nel to some prison time... felony asshole.

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9:46 am
Nel is discussing now about what kind of balance Pistorius would have when firing the gun at the toilet door.

If he used both hands the recoil would make him lose balance, says Nel.

The doctor agrees.

Pistorius' version is that he had his back against the wall for balance.

9:39 am
It's been a month since we last heard evidence.

If you need a catch up on what's happened in the trial so far, take a look at this video.

9:37 am
Gerrie Nel asking Dr Versfeld why he feels qualified to make comments about Pistorius' vulnerability in "a dangerous situation".

Nel argues he is not and this has been tailored to fit the defence case.

9:34 am
Nel says one of the doctors today concludes that Pistorius has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

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9:50 am

Gerrie Nel illustrating that by Pistorius' own evidence, after shooting he was able to turn and walk out of the bathroom, moves fans and look behind curtains.

Roux not happy about this and tries to jump in and disrupt with an objection.

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10:00 am
Damaging.

Dr Versfeld has to concede that Pistorius' claim that he walked from the bathroom back into the bedroom in "pitch dark" on his stumps is "improbable".

This is relevant to the issue of whether a bathroom light was on at the time of the shooting or not.

9:56 am
Nel continues in this vein.

He says that Pistorius was able to walk on bathroom, carpet and out to the balcony.

Dr Versfeld saying that a question is "unacceptable".

Nel saying this is an odd remark to make.

He suggests that as Pistorius' long-term physician he is not being "objective" with his evidence.

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10:08 am
There's a problem with the court recorder.

Judge Masipa says they may as well have an early tea break while it is fixed.

We're adjourned until 10.30am UK time.

10:07 am
Nel brings this point to its conclusion.

Dr Versfeld admits that it would be "very difficult" for Pistorius to run in the dark.

He says it would be "highly likely" that he would fall.

However, if a light was on, this would be far less likely, asks Nel.

Yes, agrees Dr Versfeld.

_________________
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We have a problem with court recorder.... the JUDGE asks for early TEA!!!!!

tea-break

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Come on South Africa!!!!

The world is watching.. this is a farce!

Let OP go.... lock Nel up!!

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10:32 am
We're about to restart.

The main news from this morning is that the panel of psychiatrists who assessed Oscar Pistorius concluded he was NOT mentally ill when he shot dead Reeva.

The doctors said he was able to tell right from wrong at the time of the shooting.

_________________
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___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light