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Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:21 pm
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PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius will start a period of psychiatric evaluation at a government institution next week, a judge ruled on Tuesday as she postponed the star athletes murder trial until June 30. Randall Cunningham Jersey . A panel of mental health experts is now to decide if the double-amputee runner can be held criminally responsible for killing his girlfriend. Judge Thokozile Masipa took just a few minutes to read out her ruling that the Olympian must present himself at 9 a.m. on Monday and every weekday after that at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria. Pistorius will be treated as an outpatient, Masipa ruled, and will be allowed to leave the facility in the South African capital each day at 4 p.m. or when "formally excused" by hospital authorities. The period of evaluation will be for no more than 30 days, the judge said, and will depend on how long the panel of four experts needs to observe Pistorius and compile a report for the court. The panel will consist of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist, Masipa said. Pistorius, 27, claims he shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, by mistake through a toilet stall door in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013, thinking she was an intruder. The prosecution says he murdered her during an argument. A psychiatrist called by Pistorius defence lawyers recently testified she believes the runner had an anxiety disorder from childhood which may have contributed to him killing Steenkamp. That prompted the chief prosecutor to ask the court that he be sent for independent psychiatric tests. Kelly Phelps, a senior lecturer in the public law department at the University of Cape Town and a legal expert observing the trial, said the psychiatric evaluation could affect both the verdict and, if Pistorius is convicted, the sentencing. She saw three possible outcomes: -- An "extreme" conclusion in which the panel decides Pistorius was unable to distinguish between right and wrong, or act in accordance with that understanding, because of an anxiety disorder when he killed Steenkamp. Such an outcome, according to Phelps, would result in a verdict of "not guilty by reason of mental illness." -- The panel basically agrees with the defence witness, Dr. Merryll Vorster, who said Pistorius was able to distinguish between right and wrong but had the anxiety disorder, possibly bolstering Pistorius argument that he was acting in "putative self-defence" because he feared his life was in danger from a perceived intruder. -- The panel contradicts Vorster and says Pistorius does not have an anxiety disorder, possibly casting doubt on the defences argument that Pistorius had a long-held fear of crime and felt anxious and vulnerable when he shot Steenkamp. Judge Masipa said Tuesday that the panel should determine whether any mental illness may have affected Pistorius capacity to be "criminally responsible" for killing Steenkamp. She said the panel would evaluate "whether he was capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act or of acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his act." The world-famous disabled athlete faces 25 years to life in prison if found guilty on the premeditated murder charge. He is free on bail. Masipas ruling came on day 33 of proceedings in the trial, which started March 3 and was initially predicted to last three weeks. Mitch Hyatt Jersey . Patrick Sharp scored twice and Patrick Kane, Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy also connected to lead Chicago to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Monday night. Jason Garrett Jersey . - Veteran Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr, sidelined since Game 1 of the Anaheim series, says hes close to returning. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/ . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Andrew Wiggins of Thornhill, Ont. had six points in just under 19 minutes in his NBA debut as his Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a 105-101 decision to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Wiggins, who was picked first overall in June by the Cleveland Cavaliers and then traded to Minnesota as part of the Kevin Love deal, started for the Timberwolves after Kevin Martin was sidelined by an ankle injury. I was nervous, but not crazy nervous, Wiggins said after his debut. I calmed down after the tip. Wiggins was 2-for-5 from the field and made one three-pointer. He also had one assist, three rebounds, and two steals. With Wiggins and 2013 top pick Anthony Bennett, the Timberwolves became the first team in almost 30 years to open the season with the top picks from the previous two drafts. The last time was the 1984-85 season when the Houston Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The win by the hometown Grizzlies marked their first season-opening win since 2000, when the franchise was still located in Vancouver Marc Gasol scored a career-high 32 points for the victors. We didnt talk about it as in like We need this, but moreso like Man, can you believe we havent won since theyve been here? said point guard Mike Conley, who scored 16 points. Its an unbelievable thought. Zach Randolph added 25 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis, which had dropped its last 13 openers. Gasol also had nine rebounds, and Courtney Lee finished with 14 points. That was a good game to start the season, Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. We made some mistakes, but we fought and we fought and we fought. Gasol and Randolph helped Memphis outscore Minnesota 58-34 in the paint, but the Timberwolves outrebounded the Grizzlies 47-33 in their first game since they traded star forward Kevin Love to Cleveland in the off-season. Minnesotas total included 19 offensive boards. Thaddeus Young had 26 points in his first game with the Timberwolves, going 10 for 18 from the field. Mo Williams scored 18 points and Shabazz Muhammad finished with 13. Ricky Rubio had 112 points and seven assists, but also committed seven of Minnesotas 23 turnovers. Tony Dorsett Jersey. We have to take care of the ball, especially me, Rubio said. I got maybe too crazy at the end of the third quarter. The Timberwolves used a 9-0 run to take an 87-85 lead in the fourth quarter. Anthony Bennett scored five points and Muhammad had four in the spurt. The game was close for the next couple minutes before Memphis created some space. Gasol made a 21-footer for a 101-96 lead with 1:23 left. In the midst of that key stretch late in the game, there was an out of bounds call in front of the Minnesota bench with 2:20 left that went Memphis way — a decision with which the Timberwolves heartily disagreed. I thought for sure that was off of (Randolph), Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. That was kind of a momentum change because we had the game momentum. The Timberwolves still were within one possession when Vince Carter, signed by Memphis in the off-season, converted two free throws for a 105-101 lead with 7.3 seconds to go. If I cant make the shots, I might as well make the free throws that count, said Carter, who missed six of his seven shot from the field. TIP-INS Grizzlies: Memphis extended its regular-season home winning streak to 15. ... Rapper Yo Gotti led the Grizzlies starters in for the introductions. ... Gasols previous career high was 30 points against the Sixers in 2009. Timberwolves: The game marked the first time in 14 seasons Minnesota opened the season away from the Target Center. LOOK WHOS HERE Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera, who has made few appearances at games since buying the team two years ago, was on hand for the opener. INJURY REPORT Timberwolves reserve centre Gorgui Dieng injured his right thumb in the second quarter. X-rays were negative, and he returned in the second half with the thumb taped. ... In addition to Martin sitting, Ronny Turiaf missed the game with right hip soreness. UP NEXT Grizzlies: At Indiana on Friday. Timberwolves: Home opener Thursday against Detroit Pistons. ' ' ' |
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