Story highlights A panel of doctors finds Olympian Oscar Pistorius mentally fit to stand trial

Pistorius is accused of deliberately shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

He says he shot Steenkamp accidentally in his bathroom, mistaking her for an intruder

The trial was halted in May after the judge ordered Pistorius to undergo psychiatric tests

Oscar Pistorius was not mentally incapacitated when he shot his girlfriend to death, a psychiatric assessment of the athlete has found.

The results of the assessment were revealed in court Monday when the Olympic sprinter's trial resumed after a monthlong break for the evaluation.

According to the findings by an independent panel of doctors, Pistorius did not suffer from a mental defect or mental illness at the "time of the commission of the offense that would have rendered him criminally not responsible of the offenses charged."

The report added that "Mr. Pistorius was capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act."

Had the doctors deemed Pistorius mentally incapacitated during the shooting, the trial would have immediately ended in a verdict of not guilty by reason of mental illness.

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Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Oscar Pistorius reaches out to his uncle Arnold Pistorius and other family members as he is led out of court in Pretoria, South Africa, after being sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, October 21. Pistorius, the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, was sentenced for culpable homicide in the February 2013 death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Hide Caption 1 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria on Monday, October 13. A judge cleared Pistorius of premeditated murder last month, but he was found guilty of culpable homicide -- the South African term for unintentionally, but unlawfully, killing a person. Hide Caption 2 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks with his uncle Arnold Pistorius during his trial at the Pretoria High Court on Friday, September 12. Hide Caption 3 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius cries on the stand in Pretoria on Thursday, September 11, as the judge reads notes while delivering her verdict. Hide Caption 4 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at court on September 11. Hide Caption 5 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks to someone in court as his murder trial resumes in Pretoria on Thursday, August 7. Hide Caption 6 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits in court in Pretoria on Tuesday, July 8. Hide Caption 7 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at court in Pretoria on Monday, July 7. Hide Caption 8 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius yawns during day 37 of his murder trial on June 3. Hide Caption 9 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius hugs a supporter Wednesday, July 2. Hide Caption 10 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to evidence being presented in court on Monday, June 30. Hide Caption 11 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves the court in Pretoria on Tuesday, May 20. Hide Caption 12 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius reads notes during his trial on Monday, May 12. Hide Caption 13 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans testifies for the defense on May 12. Hide Caption 14 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – A red laser dot points at bullet holes in the bathroom door for a forensic demonstration during the trial on May 12. Pistorius admits firing four bullets through the closed door, killing Steenkamp, but says he thought he was protecting himself from a burglar. Hide Caption 15 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius returns to court as his murder trial resumes Monday, May 5, after a break of more than two weeks. Hide Caption 16 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius gets a hug from a woman as he leaves court in Pretoria on Wednesday, April 16. Hide Caption 17 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius rubs his eye Tuesday, April 15, after testifying during his murder trial. Hide Caption 18 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius arrives at the court in Pretoria on Monday, April 14. Hide Caption 19 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' sister, Aimee, cries in court as she listens to her brother's testimony on Tuesday, April 8. Hide Caption 20 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, reacts as she listens to Pistorius' testimony on April 8. Hide Caption 21 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois Pistorius in court on Monday, April 7. Hide Caption 22 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits inside the courtroom as members of his defense team talk in the foreground Friday, March 28. Hide Caption 23 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius leaves court on March 28. The trial was delayed until April 7 because one of the legal experts who will assist the judge in reaching a verdict was sick. Hide Caption 24 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Steenkamp's mother, right, and family friend Jenny Strydom react in court Tuesday, March 25, during cross-questioning. Hide Caption 25 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Cell phone analyst Francois Moller testifies during the trial on March 25. Questioned by the prosecution, Moller listed in order the calls made and received by Pistorius after he shot Steenkamp. Hide Caption 26 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius cries as he sits in the dock during his trial on Monday, March 24. Hide Caption 27 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius talks to defense attorney Barry Roux on March 24. Hide Caption 28 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius holds his head while members of his family talk behind him on Tuesday, March 18. Hide Caption 29 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Steenkamp's mother, wearing the white collared shirt, looks on while a police officer takes notes in court March 18. Hide Caption 30 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois on March 18. Hide Caption 31 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius takes notes Monday, March 17, as his murder trial enters its third week. Hide Caption 32 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius covers his head as he listens to forensic evidence Thursday, March 13. Hide Caption 33 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Forensic investigator Johannes Vermeulen, left, is questioned during the trial March 13. Hide Caption 34 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to questions during his trial on Wednesday, March 12. Hide Caption 35 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – A police officer takes part in a court reconstruction March 12. A police forensic expert said Pistorius was on the stumps of his amputated legs when he knocked down a locked toilet door with a cricket bat to reach his shot girlfriend. That counters the track star's assertion he was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. Defense attorney Barry Roux countered by suggesting that even with his prosthetic legs on, Pistorius would not be swinging a bat at the same height as an able-bodied person. Hide Caption 36 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius listens to cross-questioning on Monday, March 10. Hide Caption 37 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Friends of Steenkamp's family watch Pistorius during his trial on March 7. Hide Caption 38 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius covers his ears on Thursday, March 6, as a witness speaks about the morning Steenkamp was killed. Hide Caption 39 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' sister, Aimee, right, speaks with members of Steenkamp's family on March 6. Hide Caption 40 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius sits in court on the third day of his trial Wednesday, March 5. Hide Caption 41 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius appears on the second day of his trial Tuesday, March 4. Hide Caption 42 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Members of the media work during a break in proceedings March 4. Hide Caption 43 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius talks with Roux inside the court on March 4. Hide Caption 44 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius speaks with his legal representatives on March 4. Hide Caption 45 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is escorted out of the court Monday, March 3, after the first day of his murder trial. Hide Caption 46 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – People try to get a glimpse of Pistorius as he leaves the court building on March 3. Hide Caption 47 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius is seen shortly after arriving for his trial on March 3. Hide Caption 48 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius walks into the courtroom on March 3. Hide Caption 49 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius takes a drink of water March 3 during his trial. Hide Caption 50 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – The case has captivated South Africa. Here, Lauren Wentzel watches the proceedings from her home outside Cape Town on March 3. Hide Caption 51 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – June Steenkamp arrives at the court building for the start of the trial. Hide Caption 52 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – Pistorius' relatives wait inside the courtroom on March 3. Hide Caption 53 of 54 Photos: Photos: Oscar Pistorius murder trial Oscar Pistorius murder trial – People at the court building wait for Pistorius' arrival on March 3. Hide Caption 54 of 54

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Pistorius, 27, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, 29-year-old model and law school graduate Reeva Steenkamp , in his home in February 2013.

Pistorius admits shooting Steenkamp through a closed door, killing her, but has told the court in Pretoria, South Africa, that he mistook her for an intruder. He has pleaded not guilty.

The state says Pistorius argued with Steenkamp before killing her.

On May 20, trial Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered Pistorius to report for a psychiatric evaluation to establish whether he was criminally responsible for his actions.

The prosecution and defense said they accepted the report's findings. The defense has resumed its case.

Psychiatrist's testimony

Pistorius' psychiatric testing last month was triggered by the testimony of a psychiatrist who said the sprinter has suffered from generalized anxiety disorder since he was an infant, stemming partly from the amputation his lower legs.

The disorder meant Pistorius had "excessive" concerns about security and felt threatened even when, objectively, he was not, Dr. Merryll Vorster testified on May 12

After Vorster's testimony, prosecutor Gerrie Nel filed a motion asking the judge to require psychiatric tests, arguing that if there was any chance the defendant's mental health was an issue, the court must "err on the side of caution."

Nel's extremely unusual move was essentially an effort to maneuver the court into considering an insanity or "capacity" defense even though the athlete's legal team is not mounting one, CNN legal analyst Kelly Phelps said.

Pistorius' lead defense lawyer, Barry Roux, argued against the tests, describing Nel's reading of the law as "unfortunate."

But Masipa ordered the evaluation, saying the defense's act of putting a psychiatrist on the stand had raised the question of the athlete's mental health. Testing began on May 26.

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Light and balance

When court resumed Monday, the defense called Pistorius' orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gerald Versfeld as a witness.

Versfeld described the limitations of Pistorius' mobility, based on his examination of the athlete and Pistorius' own description.

In his cross-examination, Nel focused on the effect of light on Pistorius' balance.

In his affidavit, Pistorius said he had rushed to the bathroom on stumps with a pistol after hearing a noise. He said he had been too scared to turn the lights on. "It was pitch dark in the bedroom, and I thought Reeva was in bed."

Nel suggested to Versfeld that it would have been "highly unlikely" that Pistorius would have been able to walk on his stumps without falling if it had been pitch black in the bedroom, given the objects in it.

"If it was indeed pitch dark, that is so," Versfeld replied.

Roux referred to Pistorius' evidence that there had been slight illumination.

"The moment there is light available, he will be able to use his vision to balance," Versfeld said, agreeing that if Pistorius had known the objects in his room, that would also have helped protect him from falling.

Sound of screams

Acoustic engineer Ivan Lin was the second witness to take the stand Monday.

He told court that "typically," one can differentiate between male and female screams, but not without exception.

Lin said it would be "impossible" to replicate the "highly complex sound transmission" from Pistorius' house the night he killed Steenkamp. He explained how different variables could affect the transmission.

Verdict

At the trial's conclusion, Masipa will have to decide whether Pistorius genuinely made a mistake or killed Steenkamp intentionally.

If she does not believe the athlete thought there was an intruder, she will find him guilty of murder and sentence him to at least 15 years in prison and possibly life. South Africa does not have the death penalty.

If Masipa accepts that Pistorius did not know Steenkamp was the person he was shooting at, she could find him guilty of culpable homicide, a lesser charge than murder, or acquit him, according to CNN legal analyst Kelly Phelps.

A verdict of culpable homicide would leave the sentence at Masipa's discretion.