Both Oscar Pistorius' defense team and the prosecution are all set to submit their papers in preparation for the final and closing oral arguments on Monday.
The defense team already pleaded not guilty last March and the testimonies were already presented to Judge Thokozile Masipa, who will be giving the final verdict.
Oscar Pistorius, who might be imprisoned for life (or 25 years, for good behavior), has been very consistent with his plea that he did not intend to kill his ex-girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He said he mistakenly thought she was in bed during the night of the incident and there was a burglar. Pistorius shot at the bathroom door four times, and then he saw Steenkamp on the other side of the door.
The 22-year-old sprinter emotionally expressed during the cross-examination last April (as quoted by KPopStarz): "This is the night I lost the person I most cared about. I don't know how people don't understand that."
Dr. Merryll Vorster, a psychiatrist, said that Pistorius' surgery at the age of 11 months, when his legs were removed, had caused his generalized anxiety disorder.
Subsequently, one of the further investigations concluded that the South African Olympian didn't suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. This disorder would have been the best defense against the allegations of an intended murder; however, the result made a huge impact on Pistorius' team, increasing the probability of the high court to further investigate.
The accused was sent to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for another psychiatric evaluation. "Mr. Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offense charged," state prosecutor Gerrie Nel reported.
Meanwhile, on the report of International Business Times, Nel believes that Pistorius must be aware of Steenkamp's whereabouts, that an intruder won't be locking himself inside the bathroom, and that the couple had an argument.
The closing arguments are set on Thursday, August 7. Despite Pistorius' conviction that he did not kill his ex-girlfriend, he still might be convicted for several charges, including culpable homicide, illegal ammunition, and discharging firearms in public.
What do you think will arise on the final judgment? Leave your comments below.
Pistorius inside the Pretoria court
During the last court hearings, Pistorius wept several times and even vomited when the pathologist, Gert Saayman, described Steenkamp's fatal injuries. Pistorius was found to be very regretful of the incident. In parting, he divulged that his family had been victimized by burglars, which led him to be so defensive during the crime scene.
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