Pistorius Doctor: "Disability Never Sleeps"

(ATR) On Thursday, one of Pistorius' doctors argued that while the Olympic sprinter is one of the fastest runners in the world, he is also disabled and "disability never sleeps."

During day 37 of the Paralympian's murder trial, Wayne Derman went through an extensive list of the difficulties that double amputees face every day.

Derman told the court that disability affects "nearly every aspect" of an athlete's life.

"It's there when you go to sleep at night, and it's there when you wake up in the morning."

One of Pistorius' defense lawyers, Kenny Oldwadge, explained toJudge Thokozile Masipa on Thursday that there are two Oscars: one is a global sports star, and one is "vulnerable" and "scared."

CNN's Richard Allen Greene reports Pistorius' lawyer quotes the athlete as saying he is "stuffed" without his legs on, a slang term meaning "in trouble."

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel aggressively cross-examined Derman, pressing the doctor on whether he thought the shooting was an instinctive "fight-or-flight" response from the Olympian or the result of a conscious thought.

Derman stressed that it was impossible for him to answer theoretical questions about Pistorius' mindset during the moment he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

During his cross-examination, Nel suggested Derman was not a trustworthy witness because he had a responsibility to Pistorius as his doctor. The judge rejected the objection.

On Wednesday, Pistorius' defense attorney Barry Roux read a report from the doctor who evaluated the Olympian during the past month.

The report says the athlete does not have a history of past aggression or a predisposition to killing such as "rage-type murders in intimate relations." The doctor also concluded that Pistorius is depressed, asuicide risk, and has post-traumatic stress disorder.

JudgeThokozile Masipa adjourned court today until Monday, July 7.

On March 3, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing. If convicted, the Olympic sprinter faces 25 years in jail.

Written byNicole Bennett

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