A psychologist who was called by Oscar Pistorius’ team of attorneys to testify on Monday said the former Olympian runner is undoubtedly a “broken man” since he shot and killed his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his South African home on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Why?
He not only lost the woman he loved, but also his reputation, friends, income and self-worth, Lore Hartzenberg said during a court hearing to determine the sentence Pistorius should receive for his guilty culpable homicide finding, The Associated Press reported.
The prosecution, meanwhile, called the testimony unbalanced and slanted, AP reported.
Ms. Hartzenberg went on to say that Pistorius had frequently cried, retched, perspired and paced during meetings she’s held with him.
“We are left with a broken man who has lost everything,” she said, AP reported.
The legal strategy is obviously aimed at persuading the judge to see that Pistorius has suffered enough, both mentally and materially, for the shooting that he maintained was accidental.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.