Oscar Pistorius having his tie adjusted by his uncle Arnold in court on Thursday
South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius has been greatly affected by his disability, a sports doctor has told his murder trial in Pretoria.
Defence witness Wayne Derman told the court that the Paralympian suffered "significant stress and anxiety".
Mr Pistorius says he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder in their house last year.
The prosecution argues that he killed her deliberately after a row.
At issue is the athlete's state of mind at the time of the shooting.
On Monday, the court heard he was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Ms Steenkamp.
According to a psychiatrists' report, Mr Pistorius, 27, is capable of distinguishing between right and wrong and so should bear criminal responsibility for his actions.
The court also heard a psychologist's assessment on Wednesday which found that he had post-traumatic stress disorder since the shooting and could be a suicide risk.
It found he was mourning Ms Steenkamp, 29, a model and law graduate.
'Disability never sleeps'
The athlete's lawyer, Barry Roux, has argued that his client would react more sharply to fear than an able-bodied person would because of the anxiety caused by his disability.
Mr Derman, a professor of sports and exercise medicine at the University of Cape Town, was the final witness called by the defence. He has worked with South Africa's Olympic and Paralympic teams.
Oscar Pistorius's defence lawyer Kenny Oldwage in court on Thursday
Mr Pistorius says he mistook his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder
He said Mr Pistorius had had a "lifetime of real and learnt vulnerability" as a result of his disability. Disability, he said, had a "knock-on" effect through one's entire life. "Disability never sleeps."
The athlete, the professor added, also had a "profound fear of crime".
The athlete, he said, had developed an "exaggerated fight response" and this was responsible for the "horrific tragedy" of Ms Steenkamp's death.
But cross-examining Mr Derman, prosecutor Gerrie Nel suggested Mr Derman's statements amounted to "character" rather than "expert" evidence.
Mr Pistorius says he fired multiple shots into a toilet cubicle where Ms Steenkamp was, while in a state of panic.
The sprinter and Ms Steenkamp had been dating for about three months before the shooting.
He has often displayed his emotions during the trial, including breaking down in tears in court.
There are no juries at trials in South Africa, so the athlete's fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
If found guilty of murder, Mr Pistorius, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison.
The court has been adjourned until Monday.
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