South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has had an anxiety disorder since childhood and was “anxious” about violent crime, a psychiatrist has told his murder trial.

His actions when he shot his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day last year “should be seen in context of his anxiety,” Merryll Vorster said.

The prosecution dramatically asked for him to undergo mental observation.

The double-amputee Paralympian denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp.