Pistorius' initial shock and frequent crying often disprupted the sessions, Dr Hartzenberg says. She says he has "not been able to reach a stage of acceptance and healing in his grieving process".
08.40 Psychologist describes counseling sessions
He was very emotional, we couldn't conduct some of the sessions. Some were just him weeping and crying and me holding him.
Dr Hartzenberg says she gave Pistorius grief and trauma counseling.
She reiterates that she agreed with Pistorius not to be involved in the trial, but changed her mind,
08.35 Defence calls Pistorius psychologist
The first witness for the defence is Oscar Pistorius’s psychologist Dr Lore Hartzenberg. Dr Hartzenberg has a "therapeutic support" to Pistorius during the trial, she tells the court. She says she intended not to become involved in the trial, but that she decided after writing a report for the court on Pistorius's condition that she should give evidence.
Dr Hartzenberg is not being shown on the television coverage.
08.33 Court is is session
Judge Masipa has entered court. She confirms with the barristers for Pistorius and the state that the mitigation and sentencing is not likely to take more than one week. The defence will call four witnesses and the state two.
08.29 Erin Conway-Smith is in court
It feels a little like Groundhog Day in Pretoria with prosecutors, the defence, journalists and family members gathered again at the High Court. Oscar Pistorius has arrived, as have June and Barry Steenkamp, the parents of Reeva. Unusually, a security scanner has been set up at the entrance to the courtroom. It is unclear whether this is in response to a threat or other security concern.
We expect sentencing procedures to take most of the week, likely concluding Thursday or Friday. The defence will argue mitigating factors first, followed by the state arguing aggravating factors, likely tomorrow.
08.16 Barry and June Steenkamp arrive in court
Reeva Steenkamp's parents Barry and June Steenkamp are also in the courtroom. Their "victim impact statement" is due to be read in court.
Oscar Pistorius is seated in a courtroom at the high court in Pretoria (Mike Hutchings/AP)
08.13 Oscar Pistorius has arrived in court,
Pistorius has arrived accompanied by six heavily armed police officers, though his family is yet to join him this morning. Judge Masipa is in her usual seat too, ready to hear first of all the defence's mitigation arguments, before the prosecution makes its case for Pistorius to be sentenced for the maximum 15 year's jail sentence.
Pistorius arrives at the High Court in Pretoria (Reuters)
08.05 What sentence is Pistorius likely to face?
My colleague Harriet Alexander has this on broad range of sentences open to Judge Masipa:
For manslaughter, there are no minimum terms, which means that he could be given a suspended sentence.
He could also be ordered to do community service.
Alternatively, she could decide that the severity of the crime merits a prison sentence and send him to jail for a maximum of 15 years.
Legal experts in South Africa have been reluctant to state publicly their predictions for the sentencing, which will come after Gerrie Nel, the prosecutor, and Barry Roux, Pistorius' defence lawyer, have both put forward their arguments for mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
A commonly-held belief, however, is that he will be sentenced to between five and ten years behind bars
08.00 Oscar Pistorius sentenced today
Good morning. Oscar Pistorius returns to court this morning for the beginning of the final stage of his marathon trial. The former Paralympian and Olympian athlete was last month found guilty of the culpable homicide - equivalent to manslaughter - of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.
Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled on September 12 that Pistorius was not guilty of murder – meaning that he escaped a mandatory life sentence and 25 years behind bars.
There is no mininum term for culpable homicide, meaning that Pistorius could receive a suspended sentence or be set free. The maximum term is 15 years in prison.
If he is jailed, Pistorius will most likely be housed near Pretoria at either Pretoria Central, Baviaanspoort, or the rural Zonderwater prison. Given his disability and fame, he is unlikely to be housed with other criminals.
We are likely to see up to two days of arguments before the sentence is passed.
Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1wqUmFq
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