Oscar Pistorius psychiatric evaluator suffers heart attack

The psychiatrist evaluating Oscar Pistorius in the trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has suffered a heart attack.

However, this is not expected to delay the trial, which resumes on June 30, the prosecution say.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, is due to complete a 30-day psychiatric assessment on Friday.

The judge in his trial ordered the tests after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend and says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.

The South African Paralympic champion checked in as a day patient to Pretoria’s Weskoppies psychiatric hospital on May 26, where he has been assessed by a team of health experts for seven hours a day.

Three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist were tasked to determine whether his state of mind and disability had an effect on him when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.

South Africa’s eNCA broadcaster earlier reported that the psychiatrist’s heart attack may have caused a delay in the handing over of Oscar Pistorius’ psychiatric evaluation report.

The psychiatrist in question, Dr. Leon Fine, had not yet signed the report, according to eNCA’s website.

The prosecution had argued the tests were essential after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster, who diagnosed the athlete with GAD, told the court he was “a danger to society”.

The defense vigorously opposed the move.

The court in Pretoria is expected to hear the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ medical tests when the trial resumes on Monday.

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