Psychologist suggests Oscar Pistorius is suicide prone

Oscar Pistorius arrives at the Pretoria court

Pretoria, July 2 (IANS) South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is at risk of suicide, a psychologist's report submitted in court during his murder trial said. The report said he was mourning his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, BBC reported.

The court heard that Pistorius, 27, was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria. He denies murder, saying he killed her by mistake fearing there was an intruder in the house. The prosecution says the Olympic athlete deliberately killed Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, after the couple had an argument.

There were two reports on the athlete -- one by a psychologist and another by three psychiatrists. They were drawn up after a month of tests to evaluate the athlete's state of mind.

The prosecution 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, quoting the second report, said that Pistorius, a double-amputee, has a history of feeling insecure and vulnerable, especially without his prosthetic legs.

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

It also said that he did not show signs of narcissism or explosive rage, which is usually seen in men who are abusive to their partners. The court has previously heard that Steenkamp had sent the athlete a message saying: "I'm scared of you sometimes."