Oscar prof showed bias: Nel
Murder-accused Oscar Pistorius's physician was possibly biased while testifying in the Paralympian's defence in the High Court in Pretoria, the State said on Thursday (03/07/2014).
"What was your brief?" prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked sports and exercise medicine professor at the University of Cape Town, Wayne Derman.
"To detail my experience with Oscar Pistorius and to detail my observations with him and anything that might be relevant..." he told the court.
"Isn't that the work of a character witness [and] not an expert witness?" Nel asked.
Nel said Derman's evidence was not that of an expert witness, as the professor had described himself.
Nel said as Pistorius's doctor Derman was bound by the Health Professions Council of SA's regulations to act in his patient's best interest.
"Is that what you're doing now?" Nel asked.
"I believe so," Derman replied.
Nel said if Derman were to be objective, his testimony could harm his patient.
"I disagree. I am not going to come before court [with] a biased report because I have been very careful to back up my report."
When asked if he would give evidence against Pistorius, Derman said: "I'm under oath, I have to provide the truth and that is what I'll do." Professor recommended room change during Paralympics Earlier, Prof Derman said it was he who had suggested that paralympian Arnu Fourie move from the room he shared with Oscar Pistorius at the 2012 London Paralympics .
This was because Fourie showed signs of becoming ill, Derman told the court. Prosecutor Nel first posed questions about the matter on Tuesday, and suggested the request was due to Pistorius shouting at people on his phone.
Fourie on Tuesday night posted a statement on social networking site Twitter. In the statement Fourie said he approached his doctor at the 2012 Paralympic Games to find out if the "isolation room was available two nights before our 100m final".
"It was one of the most important races of my life and I wanted to rest and recover well on my own time in preparation for the race. I cherish all the moments we shared at the London Games," Fourie said in the statement.
Fourie and Pistorius were teammates in the 400m relay at the games.
On Thursday Derman, sports and exercise medicine professor at the University of Cape Town, and the team doctor, said he noticed Fourie had the beginnings of an upper respiratory tract infection.
"It was my recommendation that he take the isolation room. The last thing you want is two athletes contaminated."
Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013.
He shot her through the locked door of the toilet in his Pretoria home, apparently thinking she was an intruder about to open the door and attack him. She was struck in the hip, arm, and head.
After firing the shots, Pistorius used a cricket bat to break open the door to get to a dying Steenkamp.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder and to three firearm-related charges.
The State argues he killed her during an argument. - Sapa
