During the third day of his sentencing for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius shocked the courtroom by removing his artificial legs and walking around the courtroom.
The reason for this unusual display was because Pistorius’ defense attorney Barry Roux wanted to show how vulnerable Pistorius is when he isn’t wearing his prosthetics as was the case on the night of Steenkamp’s death.
Said Roux (via the Mirror)…
This is the person – it’s three o’clock in the morning. It’s dark. He’s on his stumps…not on his legs, he is not running around the track. When he was on his stumps his balance was seriously compromised and without anything he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened and he was suffering from an anxiety disorder. This must all be seen in the context of his disability and the pervasive effect of the disability. When I look at him I think how rational can be.
A visibly upset Pistorius then returned to his seat.
Pistorius is facing up to 15 years in prison for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp and his attorney Roux hopes that this display will make the court grant him some leniency in his sentencing which is scheduled to run through this Friday