2014-07-02

Rolling coverage as the defence calls its final witness in the trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp

Read the end-of-day summary

Judge bans publication of full mental health findings

Psychologist's report: key conclusions

Psychiatrists' report: 'no mental disorder or defect'

3.17pm BST

A complex afternoon in court, with detailed testimony on neuroscience from the defence's final witness, and a ruling by Judge Masipa that details of the psychologist's findings on Pistorius that have not been read out in court cannot now be published though tweets and reports dating from before the order was made (15.05 Johannesburg time) can stand.

#Pistorius defence source: Mental health report is blocked because it discusses family members. Not unprecedented in South African courts.

At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or mental defect that affected his ability to distinguish between the rightful and wrongful nature of his deeds.

He is an anxious individual He has a tremor of the hands. He also has a sleep disorder, for which I have had to medicate him.

2.44pm BST

A (social) media minefield here, as Judge Masipa orders that that the contents of the mental health reports on Pistorius not be published, other than the details that are on record. But the order dates only from the time it was made: at 15.05 in South Africa (14.o5 BST). Which means tweets from before this time, and earlier posts on this blog, are not covered.

Reporters in court are bemused by the decision:

Interesting/controversial ruling by judge that full state psychologist report - handed out to media in court - now not for broadcast.

Day 36 of the #PistoriusTrial: If you retweet any details of the #OscarPistorius psych report, you will be found in contempt of court

Furious reaction among journos about this ruling. OP has written a book re his life, &we could report all the defence psych report evidence.

#OscarPistorius in the age of electronic media, how do you gag something that is already on line and how do you enforce a court order?

2.09pm BST

Oldwage notes it is time for the court to adjourn for the day. He pauses his questioning of Derman.

But he's now asking the judge to consider granting an order prohibiting the publication of information other than the conclusions that are on record from the mental health reports.

They are already out there I can only prohibit something that has not happened yet. So from this moment? I wish someone had alerted this to me earlier.

2.02pm BST

Derman reads findings from a study that showed that in a high-fear group, startle responses are higher.

1.58pm BST

1.56pm BST

For a person with higher anxiety, the lower the "pathway strength", Derman says, explaining that this means the person has less control over their amygdala response (and their fight-or-flight reaction) than others.

1.52pm BST

Derman is now going into real depth about the workings of the brain and showing diagrams to the court.

#oscartrial Derman: the hippocampus forms important link between thinking brain and the amygdala that governs automatic responses...

#oscartrial Derman: both hippocampus and pre-frontal cortex contain memory patterns that instantly activate when danger is perceived...

1.47pm BST

Derman describes the part of the brain that is responsible for the fight/flight response, and the reflexes in the face of danger. The defence is trying to counter Nel's questioning earlier in the trial: why did Pistorius approach the perceived danger (according to the intruder defence) rather than flee?

He says a mother facing a polar bear would find her response was to "put everything at risk" and save her children.

1.42pm BST

Paralympic athletes were called "superhumans", Derman says: this is unhelpful when others think they can "pit themselves" against these superhumans. This might explain the rise in disability hate crime.

1.39pm BST

Derman says the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK introduced legislation to deal with disability hate crimes. A disabled person is not vulnerable per se, the guidelines say; but there may be increased vulnerability in certain situations.

(There are more details here on CPS guidelines for tackling disability hate crime.)

1.34pm BST

Reporters in court in Pretoria are being handed photocopies of the psychologist's report and more details are appearing via Twitter as they read through it. There's a round-up here and here. Plus:

#OscarTrial Psych report: OP has lost interest in living and no longer enjoys the things he used to

#OscarTrial Psych report: OP told psychologist "We had such a bright future and now it is dark"

#OscarTrial Psych report potentially damaging for the prosecution with finding OP does not have personality associated with rage type murder

Carl #Pistorius took care of Oscar & Aimee when their mom was unable to, sometimes after drinking too much: psych report

1.32pm BST

Derman says people with disabilities are at 31% higher risk of being attacked than those without.

1.31pm BST

Oldwage continues his questioning of Derman.

The doctor says he has been present in two situations where disabled people have been attacked. One was on a train where "a group of youths taunted" an athlete in a wheelchair.

1.28pm BST

Masipa says the circumstances of these two individuals (the senders of the emails) cannot be relevant to this case. The defence has not persuaded her of their relevance, she says.

Masipa sides with the state: the emails are hearsay evidence and cannot be submitted as evidence.

1.21pm BST

Judge Masipa is set to rule on whether the defence can continue to use as evidence the email sent to witness Professor Wayne Derman.

1.00pm BST

More details are emerging from the report by psychologist Jonathon Scholtz, who interviewed 16 people close to Pistorius, including an ex-girlfriend, Jenna Edkins.

On his relationships:

#OP report: His experience was that many girls wanted to be with him because of his fame..that made his suspicious of the motives of woman

#OP report states that his relationship with Reeva was "probably only the second one where he felt trust, security and real companionship"

"To everybody's surprise he took her [Steenkamp] to his grandfather's funeral," says report of #OscarPistorius

#OP reports states that #OscarPistorius "held regular prayer and Bible discussion at his residence with fellow Christians." @eNCAnews

#OP report: "Ms Steenkamp shared his views on religion and would often listen to his 'Hillsong' music while driving in her car" @eNCAnews

#OscarPistorius scored "significant scores" on post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia & alcohol abuse

#OscarPistorius has been using "anti-depressants, anxiolytics (anti anxiety medication) and sedatives" since shooting Steenkamp

It's interesting that his biggest dream was to race against able-bodied athletes, perhaps an attempt to give psychological credence to his mother's position that he was not disabled.

12.30pm BST

Lots of activity in court this morning, as more details were aired of the two mental health evaluation reports compiled after Pistorius' 30-day psychiatric evaluation.

The report from the psychologist head clinical psychologist at Weskoppies hospital, Jonathon Scholtz concludes that Pistorius has been severely traumatised by the events of 14 February 2013, suffering depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and "his condition is likely to worsen" if he does not continue mental health treatment, leading to an increased risk of suicide. There is no evidence of narcissism, psychopathy, abnormal aggression or explosive anger, and his relationship with Reeva Steenkamp shows no evidence of abuse. You can read more details from the report here and here.

At the time of the alleged offences, the accused did not suffer from a mental disorder or mental defect that affected his ability to distinguish between the rightful and wrongful nature of his deeds.

He is an anxious individual He has a tremor of the hands. He also has a sleep disorder, for which I have had to medicate him.

11.54am BST

Barry Roux rattled through his reading of the psychologist's report on Pistorius. You can read the key points here. I've taken these extra quotes from legal journalist Karyn Maughan, who is reporting from Pretoria. She tweets as @karynmaughan.

No evidence could be found to indicate that Mr Pistorius has a history of abnormal aggression or explosive violence.

Abnormal aggression and violence was never incorporated into his personality, as borne out by psychometric testing.

#OscarPistorius psych report finds OP response to threat may seem extraordinary to able-bodied, but normal to disabled person with his past

11.36am BST

#OscarTrial the psychiatric report of accused. BB pic.twitter.com/fmcYJc95j8

The key findings:

Psychiatric diagnosis at the time of the alleged offences according to DSM5 [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition]: None.

Currently the accused presents with an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood that developed after the alleged incident.

11.31am BST

Judge Masipa is now consulting with her assessors.

She says the court will break for lunch now. Presumably we will hear her decision after the break.

11.29am BST

The email is not relevant, Nel says. It describes what happens to that person. It cannot be tested.

Derman is presenting himself as an expert, the prosecutor says. This email should not be part of his evidence.

11.25am BST

Nel takes over. Oldwage might take exception to his objection, he says, but he was clearly expecting it. But the court cannot hear evidence from a non-witness it cannot cross-examine.

11.21am BST

Oldwage is still making his case that the Sue Kent email to Derman is not hearsay evidence and should be allowed.

Oldwage batting out legal clauses, subsections, seems to be enjoying himself in legal argument. Is this why Barry Roux left him to this bit?

11.17am BST

Oldwage reads an extensive passage in Afrikaans, ending with: "And that's the crux of my argument."

Judge Thokozile Masipa, to laughter in the court, says he must make the argument in English.

11.14am BST

Defence lawyer Kenny Oldwadge cites legal precedent to justify inclusion of statement from non-witness, arguing it not hearsay. #Pistorius

11.11am BST

This would appear to be the author of the email that Derman was reading: Sue Kent, who tweets as @enjoyfeet, where her biography reads: "Sports and Relaxation Massage unique using my feet to massage. Disability working, Clinics in Swansea & London."

Great night watching Mat Fraser win his Observer Ethical award, nice to meet you @RSMuseumStudies pic.twitter.com/eevpFuoxOI

11.07am BST

Oldwage says he will take time to explain why the email is not hearsay evidence. The law has been relaxed on the admission of hearsay evidence, he says. But in any case, this is not hearsay evidence.

11.05am BST

Derman is now talking about a woman called Mrs Kent in the UK who has poor arm function due to thalidomide. She was a massage therapist at the London Olympics and uses her feet.

She contacted Derman by email shortly after Steenkamp was shot on 14 February 2013, which he reads to the court:

I am writing with regard to Oscar I feel I have to write to you.

As a disabled woman who has come under attack, I am amazed at my automatic responses The fight or flight response in people with a disability may be more highly developed.

10.57am BST

Derman has cited patient/doctor confidentiality to not talk about a particular event he witnessed. Oldwage asks him to tell the court. The witness is hesitant; he would need informed consent from the group of athletes involved, unless the judge orders it.

Oldwage appears to move on. Is there a difference between startle and fight-or-flight responses? Derman says the startle is the stimulus and initial response, which prompts the fight-or-flight response.

Derman: There are some individuals with disability who do not have an exaggerated startle response.

10.55am BST

Derman continues:

I have seen exaggerated fight or flight responses in some individuals, especially individuals with a disability.

I did not witness this exaggerated response in able-bodied individuals.

10.52am BST

Reeva Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, is in the high court listening to the evidence on Pistorius' stress levels:

10.49am BST

"Fight or flight" is a "primitive" response, Derman explains.

Derman: To flee I would need adrenaline, heart rate to increase, blood pressure to pick up, muscles to liberate as many fuels as possible.

10.47am BST

Certain individuals with disability can have an increased "fight or flight" response, Derman says.

Oldwage asks him to explain the response "in layman's terms".

Derman: "'Fight of flight' because the sympathetic system readies the body to fight against or flee the threat." #Pistorius

10.44am BST

Derman says he had a call from Pistorius on 2 February 2013. He had a chest infection and sinusitis. He says Pistorius told him he was "lying next to the most wonderful girl he had ever met" and he couldn't wait for the doctor to meet her.

10.43am BST

Derman: I have also found Mr Pistorius to be hyper-vigilant It's a restlessness, a looking around, a scanning for potential threat, to move oneself out of harm's way.

He presents with a very exaggerated startle response witnessed during opening and closing ceremonies with the use of fireworks covering his head and ears and cowering away.

He says the athlete scans the room constantly, even during medical consultations.

10.41am BST

Derman says he uses the test scores to look after the whole group of athletes. It enables him to see who are the five athletes with the highest scores, who would need the most support.

The support is subtle, he says it would affect where he, as sports physician, sat at dinner, for example.

10.39am BST

Professor Wayne Derman, the defence's final witness, is talking about Oscar Pistorius' involvement in his study of the stresses on disabled athletes (background here).

Questions in the K10 study included how often the participant felt depressed, hopeless, stressed, sad, worthless, fidgety, restless, and so on. There is a five-point scale of responses, ranging from "none of the time" to "all of the time". The overall score shows how distressed the athlete is.

It does show that the psychological distress markers [for Pistorius] were higher than I recorded for the entire mean group of athletes.

10.21am BST

While the court takes its 15-minute breather, a recap from Associated Press:

The chief lawyer for Oscar Pistorius has said at his murder trial that a psychologist's report concluded the athlete is suffering severe trauma and will become an increasing suicide risk unless he continues to get mental health care.

Defense lawyer Barry Roux on Wednesday read excerpts from the report, which was compiled during a 30-day observation period at a state psychiatric hospital. A report was also compiled by three psychiatrists.

10.14am BST

Derman is now explaining his research on psychological distress in elite disabled athletes. By psychological distress, he says, he would be looking for markers of anxiety and of depression.

Oldwage asks about Pistorius' psychological profile, Derman talks about a scale they use to determine levels of anxiety among athletes.

10.09am BST

Derman: He is an anxious individual He has a tremor of the hands. He also has a sleep disorder, for which I have had to medicate him.

10.08am BST

Derman says Pistorius cannot bear full weight on his left leg, which gives him an imbalance and makes walking difficult.

He relates an incident where a "distressed" Pistorius showed him over Skype his bleeding stumps.

10.07am BST

Derman moves on to the six-year period in which he has known Pistorius, through medical consultations and his observations as they resided together "in a team setting" during two Olympics (Beijing and London) and a world championships. He has observed him during the "extremely stressful" setting of competitions, and also in the anti-doping control environment after he won medals.

He has also worked as Pistorius' sports physician outside team events, and speaks to him "telephonically" and via Skype. They have been in touch since 14 February 2013.

From my observations, Mr Pistorius is a highly dedicated professional athlete who is disciplined and focused.

He has always been very vigilant and cautious not to take any prohibited substance To my knowledge he has never tested positive for any prohibited substance.

As Derman discusses Pistorius's stumps, the runner has his head bowed and his eyes closed, as if blocking out the testimony #OscarPistorius

10.00am BST

Derman says he was the team physician to the South African national football team and worked in Cape Town during 2010 World Cup. He was then appointed to the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams, and also worked for them during world championships.

9.56am BST

We're getting a fairly detailed lecture here about nervous system, adrenalin, and Derman's PhD dissertation.

#oscartrial Derman described the working of beta-blockers on the nervous system and readiness for action in athletes.

9.54am BST

9.51am BST

Derman says he was commissioned to undertake a longitudinal study into injury and illness among disabled athletes:

We do not know what happens to athletes with disabilities or impairments over the entire course of their career.

It has never been determined what the long-term consequences are.

9.47am BST

#oscartrial Derman: international travel is very difficult part of athlete's life, physiological difficulty with crossing time zones...

Paralympic athletes experience extra stresses when travelling, Derman says. It is "an added layer of complexity".

9.46am BST

Derman's research specialisms include the prevention of illness and injury in athletes with disabilities and impairments.

He has presented papers on "stump-socket interface problems":

We are creating a joint where there is not meant to be a joint With the stump fitting into the socket, there are abnormal forces There is friction and rubbing.

9.40am BST

Derman says he is a sport and exercise medicine physician, and is a professor at the University of Cape Town. He stresses that he gives evidence in a private and professional capacity and not on behalf of any of the bodies he represents, including the university and the Paralympic and Olympic committees (he was the chief medical officer of the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams).

9.38am BST

As usual, the court runs through the CV and qualifications of the witness. Derman's CV is 53 pages long. We must hope for highlights only.

9.36am BST

Court is back in session. Paralympic team doctor Professor Elton Wayne Derman is called to the stand. Kenny Oldwage will be leading questioning for the defence.

9.33am BST

Reporters in court in Pretoria say Paralympic team doctor Wayne Derman will be next in the witness box. He could be the last witness in this trial.

9.32am BST

For clarification: Nel and Roux were dealing with two different reports. That quoted by Nel was the report compiled by a panel of psychiatrists; this found that Pistorius was not suffering a mental disorder on the night he shot Steenkamp, and that he was capable of telling right from wrong.

The report quoted by Roux was by the psychologist involved in the 30-day mental health evaluation. This report says the athlete suffers from various stress and depression-related disorders since the shooting, but also says Pistorius was "conflict-avoiding" and found no evidence that the relationship with Steenkamp was abusive.

9.23am BST

Roux says he has just one witness left. He asks for a five-minute adjournment to prepare. Court breaks.

9.23am BST

Nel would like to read from the other report, by the panel of psychiatrists.

There was no finding of a mental disorder. But there is evidence of an adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression that developed after the shooting.

Nel reveals that #OscarPistorius underwent blood tests as part of psychiatric evaluation, also had brain tests. #OscarTrial

9.19am BST

Roux now turns to the psychiatric reports that were handed to the court on Monday.

He says the position of the defence that it does not accept everything in the psychologist's report as truth, but does not intend to call witnesses on it.

Mr Pistorius has been severely traumatised by the events that took place He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and a depressive disorder He is also mourning the loss of Ms Steenkamp.

Roux quoting report: There is evidence that #Pistorius does have a history of feeling insecure or vulnerable, especially without prostheses.

9.11am BST

Roux is submitting to the court a CCTV photograph of the ambulance arriving on 14 February at 3.41am at the gate of the Silverwoods estate. He says it will be relevant when it comes to closing argument when he sets out a timeline of events on the night.

9.10am BST

Roux asks him about "the Twitter he received" this is the statement posted by Arnie Fourie last night:

Regarding all the questions after the #oscarpistorius trial today. See attached statement. pic.twitter.com/LVZ35FgQVs

9.08am BST

Nel is done. Roux is on his feet for the re-examination.

Nel is finished with Zyl. A less bruising encounter than some sources had predicted. Roux's turn again with witness. #OscarPistorius

9.07am BST

Pistorius was once left out of a 4x400m relay in a world championships in 2011. Did his manager know he reacted aggressively, kicking chairs, Nel asks. Van Zyl repeats: it was a South African team event, he was not there. He knows Pistorius was upset, but heard nothing about kicking chairs.

He was actually more disheartened and almost in tears that he couldn't run in the final they had set a new South African record in the heat the previous day.

9.04am BST

Malfunctioning device corrected, Nel moves on: is Van Zyl aware of any motor vehicle accidents Pistorius was involved in? Specifically a rally car accident? None whatsoever, Van Zyl says.

The prosecutor rather theatrically flicks through several pages of his paperwork. He moves on.

9.03am BST

A disruption in court:

Judge is tearing, quietly, into a state expert seated behind Nel, whose phone has been malfunctioning.

9.03am BST

9.02am BST

Nel is now attacking Van Zyl's evidence yesterday about Pistorius and Steenkamp's pet names for each other. Doesn't he know that Pistorius used to call Taylor "little butterfly"? The witness says he never heard that. In his opinion, he says, Pistorius was loving in all three of the relationships (Edkins, Taylor, Steenkamp) he saw.

Van Zyl: The fact he had these relationships over a long period of time "showed me he was serious in these relationships". #Pistorius

9.00am BST

Van Zyl: "I don't stand to gain anything by being biased towards Mr #Pistorius in my evidence."

#oscartrial Van Zyl says he doesn't have future contracts for Pistorius, he doesn't stand to gain anything by being biased toward him.

8.59am BST

Nel turns to Van Zyl's earlier evidence of Pistorius' worries about people seeing his prostheses. Would the witness be surprised to see a media photo of Pistorius' prostheses lying on a beach, Nel asks. Van Zyl confirms he would be surprised.

8.56am BST

Van Zyl says he visited Pistorius as his manager and his friend.

Nel asks did he ever send condolences to the Steenkamp family. Van Zyl says he sent a bouquet of flowers.

Nel: Is that all? But in your statement, you never said anything?

You had an opportunity to commiserate with the Steenkamp family but you didn't.

8.54am BST

Nel now asks Van Zyl about his visit to Pistorius on 17 February three days after Steenkamp was killed in Brooklyn police station. The prosecutor asks him about this statement he made outside the station:

8.52am BST

Van Zyl says a previous girlfriend, Jenna Edkins, accompanied Pistorius to Milan for a magazine photoshoot.

8.50am BST

Nel turns back to the letter:

It took me a long time to be honest with myself and to truly fall in love with you, Sam.

I invited you to London because you have had my heart in your hands for months and never once let it go.

8.49am BST

Van Zyl: "I cannot recall I was specifically asked to find or source a ticket for Miss Taylor. I knew that he was in love with Miss Taylor."

Nel is focusing on the messy period when #OscarPistorius was switching (and perhaps overlapping) from girlfriend S Taylor to R Steenkamp.

8.48am BST

Nel reads more from the letter, in which Pistorius says he had asked "Peet" Van Zyl "to do all he can" to secure Taylor a ticket to the 2012 games.

If he did not do that, Nel says, was it was a lie he wrote to Taylor?

This is so hard to write because I don't deserve you, Sam.

I don't even feel like going to London now you won't be there with me.

8.46am BST

Nel now turns to a letter from Pistorius to Samantha Taylor, in which he says he had invited her to the 2012 Olympics:

I invited you to London because all this time you have held my heart in your hands.

8.43am BST

Van Zyl said he heard about this from Ampie Louw, Pistorius' coach. It had already been dealt with, he says. He did not get involved.

Fourie released a statement on Twitter last night, Van Zyl points out.

8.41am BST

Van Zyl says that when Pistorius is competing for his country, it is the South African team that takes care of him as manager he has little access to his athletes. He gets information "second-hand and after it's happened".

Nel moves on to another section of the article:

At the London Games, I was chatting to Oscars roommate in the Athletes Village, Arnu Fourie, who had just won the bronze medal in the 100m, edging his good friend Oscar out of the medals. Oscar was genuinely elated at his mates success. They were obviously very close and I asked Fourie what it was like rooming with Oscar.

He told me he had been forced to move out, because Oscar was constantly screaming in anger at people on the phone. I thought Fourie was joking and waited for him to smile. But he was serious. I was taken aback. I had never thought of Oscar behaving like that.

8.40am BST

Nel moves on to the issue of the room-mate, Arnu Fourie, who switched accommodation during the London 2012 Paralympics. (See here for some background on this story.)

Has Van Zyl read this article by David O'Sullivan, Nel asks. Van Zyl says he has not.

Still, I was aware that this poster boy for the Paralympic Games could have flashes of a darker side. I had experienced his anger shortly before the Beijing Paralympic Games. Oscar was at the pre-Games training camp and phoned me, raging about what he perceived to be inadequate training kit.

His fury at the South African management caught me by surprise. Oscar knew he couldnt be ignored, and his anger would ensure his demands were met. I hadnt expected Oscar to be a prima donna.

8.36am BST

#OscarTrial Van Zyl reads the mail: Hi Peet, here is Sams passport, keep it on file. We are sorting shit out. BB

Van Zyl says he assumes Pistorius was referring to a "love quarrel", but insists he does not know the detail.

8.34am BST

Van Zyl concedes he must have received the email, but maintains he doesn't remember it.

(Yesterday Van Zyl gave evidence that Steenkamp was the first girlfriend Pistorius had wanted to accompany him on overseas athletics trips, the implication being that their relationship was more serious than with previous partners.)

8.32am BST

Did Van Zyl ever arrange a visa for Taylor for an overseas trip, Nel asks. Van Zyl says he can't recall doing so, or being asked to.

Nel says he has an email from Pistorius, sent to Van Zyl on 12 September 2012, containing Taylor's passport details. He passes a copy to the witness and the defence.

Van Zyl: I can honestly not recall that email I received.

8.29am BST

Court is in session.

Nel begins by asking Van Zyl about Pistorius' relationship with a previous girlfriend, Samantha Taylor. The witness says he knew they were dating, but "nothing specific".

8.26am BST

Yesterday in court, state prosecutor Gerrie Nel quizzed Van Zyl on why Pistorius' room-mate in London in 2012 moved out of their shared accommodation. Reports at the time suggested it was because "Oscar was constantly screaming in anger at people on the phone".

But following yesterday's evidence, Arnu Fourie, the athlete in question, issued the following statement via Twitter:

Regarding all the questions after the #oscarpistorius trial today. See attached statement. pic.twitter.com/LVZ35FgQVs

8.24am BST

My colleague David Smith, who is reporting on the trial from Pretoria, says the most striking part of yesterday's testimony by Pistorius' manager, Peet van Zyl, was that setting out the athlete's fall from grace. He writes:

The athlete's achievements on the track have only occasionally featured in his trial for the murder of his girlfriend, but the arrival of his manager on the witness stand offered a stark reminder of all he has lost.

Pistorius became the first amputee sprinter to compete in an Olympic Games, finishing second in a 400m heat. The roar that greeted him when he was introduced to the crowd in London was said to rival that for any British athlete.

Due to the amazing performances of Mr Pistorius in London at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, his profile was raised to global icon, sports icon status, and I think all media would agree with me that the London Olympic Games was about two people, and that was Mr Usain Bolt and Mr Oscar Pistorius.

Based on the profile that Mr Pistorius's image carried in the business world, a lot of opportunities came our way where corporate companies wanted to be associated with Mr Pistorius due to the synergy between their values and his values, and they would want to build marketing and advertising campaigns based on that.

The financial implications were going to be substantial. I can easily say five, six times more than what it was before the London Olympic Games.

8.17am BST

The court is due to reconvene shortly in the trial of Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's day last year.

The Olympic and Paralympic sprinter denies murder, saying he shot his girlfriend by mistake, thinking there was an intruder in the house.

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