Oscar a ‘broken man’, says psychologist

Oscar Pistorius is a "broken man who has lost everything", according to his psychologist, Dr Löre Hartzenberg.

Hartzenberg was the first witness called by the Blade Runner's defence team in mitigation of sentence after he was found guilty of culpable homicide last month for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February last year.

Hartzenberg said that Pistorius’s remorse and pain were genuine in her opinion and that he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and severe depression, which required ongoing counselling and therapy.

An expert in sexual abuse and trauma counselling, Hartzenberg told the court that Pistorius's version of events had remained consistent since their first session 18 months ago.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Hartzenberg said that she was not sure whether Pistorius would be able to have a new romantic relationship in the future and that she had not discussed his career with him. This was despite writing in a report that Pistorius had lost his career and earning potential.

Nel will continue his cross-examination later this morning, after he requested an adjournment to consult with state psychologist Gerard Labuschagne regarding Hartzenberg's report.

Pistorius's defence lawyer Barry Roux told the court that he would call three witnesses and a correctional services representative during the course of the week. Nel told Judge Thokozile Masipa that he planned to call at least two witnesses to testify in aggravation of sentence.