MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) - Psychologist Dr. Lore Hartzenberg has stated that the remorse and pain Oscar Pistorius is going through following the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp are genuine, Sky News reported Monday.
"I can confirm his remorse and pain to be genuine. What we are left with is a broken man who has lost everything, his relationship with Reeva Steenkamp, his moral and professional reputation. His career and therefore his earnings," Sky News quoted the Hartzenberg as saying.
She also said that Pistorius is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over the shooting of Steenkamp, with the sessions sometimes being cut short "due to retching," Sky News reported.
Hartzenberg made the statement in court as part of the sentence hearing that started Monday and is expected to last until October 16.
The hearing follows the mid-September ruling in which South African judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide but cleared him of premeditated murder. Many consider the judgment to be unjust, including the family of Steenkamp.
Hartzenberg's statements were contended by Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who said that the family of Steenkamp suffered too. In return, Hartzenberg said she did not have any doubt that they did.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, is a South African sprint runner and six-time Paralympic Games champion. He has competed in events both for amputees and for able-bodied athletes.
On February 14, 2013, Pistorius was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp after her body was found in the athlete's bathroom. Pistorius claims he mistook her for an intruder.
