Psychologist's report reveals Oscar Pistorius could be 'a suicide risk'

A psychologist's report submitted at Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius' murder trial has revealed that the athlete has post-traumatic stress disorder and could be a suicide risk. The report, which was read by Pistorius' defence lawyer, said that he was mourning his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

According to the BBC, on Monday the court had heard that Pistorius, who denies murder and says that he killed Steenkamp by mistake when fearing there was an intruder in the house, was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Steenkamp. The prosecution said that the Olympic athlete deliberately killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, after the couple had an argument on Valentine's Day last year.

The prosecution on Monday reportedly noted that the psychiatrists' report said Pistorius was capable of distinguishing between right and wrong and so should bear criminal responsibility for his actions.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux on Wednesday quoted the second evaluation as saying that Pistorius, a double-amputee, has a history of feeling insecure and vulnerable, especially without his prosthetic legs. The report said that Pistorius was likely to react more sharply to fear than an able-bodied person would.

Roux quoted the report as saying that should Pistorius not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen and increase the risks for suicide.