Defence expected to close Oscar case

On Monday Barry Roux SC, for the athlete, asked the court to adjourn to Tuesday, to consult with his team before closing his case.

Before court adjourned, Roux requested a consultation with the State’s psychiatrist Dr Carla Kotze, before deciding on whether to call a last witness.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel objected, saying the defence could consult its own psychiatrist, Dr Leon Fine.

Kotze and Fine were part of the panel of three psychiatrists and one clinical psychologist who observed Pistorius for 30 days at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital following a court order.

Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled against the request saying no basis had been laid for it.

Masipa said Kotze was not a “normal witness” and merely because she was present in court did not mean Pistorius’s defence could speak to her.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

The State concluded its cross-examination on Monday of University of Cape Town professor Wayne Derman, who had worked as Pistorius’s physician for six years.

Nel said he would argue in his closing arguments that Derman was a biased expert witness.

– Sapa