The Oscar Pistorius murder trial is on hold after the judge in the case ruled the former Olympian must undergo psychiatric testing, according to a CNN.com report.
The ruling came after Dr. Merryll Vorster testified that Pistorius has anxiety disorder stemming from his double amputation and his unstable parents. Prosecutor Gerry Nel asked for an independent evaluation, which Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered. Masipa acknowledged this could bring a long delay in the trial.
"This is not about anyone's convenience, but about whether justice has been served," Masipa said, according to the CNN.com report.
Pistorius, who became the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics in 2012, is on trial in Pretoria, South Africa, for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14, 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and other gun charges.
Pistorius must undergo a month of testing before the trial can resume. His defense team did not raise the issue that Pistorius was insane or mentally incapacitated when he shot Steenkamp, according to the CNN.com report, but that question was raised by Vorster's testimony. Masipa said whether or not Pistorius had a psychiatric issue on the day of the shooting could impact the court's verdict.
In South Africa, there is no jury system, and the verdict in the case will be determined by Masipa. There are two assessors — legal experts who will help the judge decide the verdict — in the Pistorius trial.
“A doubt has been created,” Masipa said.
“The accused may not have raised the issue that was he was not criminally responsible at the time of the incident in so many words, but evidence raised on his behalf cannot be ignored."
