Oscar Pistorius reported to a psychiatric hospital Monday to begin evaluation. Pistorius will be be examined for 30 days at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.

With the reporting to the psychiatric hospital, Pistorius' murder trial for the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp at his house in Pretoria will be put on hold until June 30.

A defense witness asked for Pistorius to be examined because the witness said he has generalized anxiety disorder. The witness said that this condition would cause him to fight rather than flee when facing a threatening situation.

Three psychiatrists and one psychologist will examine Pistorius to see if the anxiety caused him to shoot Steenkamp.

The judge, Thokozile Masipa, detailed what she wanted in the exam.

"Enquire if whether the accused by reason of mental illness or mental defect was at the time of the commission of the offense criminally responsible for the offense he is charged, whether he was capable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his act or of acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his act," she said. 

Pistorius insists that he thought his house was being invaded by an intruder trying to harm him and Steenkamp. 

The results of Pistorius' exams will be released to the courts. 

When the panel examines Pistorius, they will have three options to decide:

  1. Pistorius was mentally incapacitated when he fatally shot Steenkamp. This would immediately stop the trial and result in a not guilty by reason of mental illness decision. Pistorius would then report to a mental institution until he was ruled to no longer be a threat or danger to himself or others;
  2. Doctors could conclude that Pistorius had a "diminished responsibility" when he killed Steenkamp. The trial would then resume and the medical records and examinations would be considered in his sentencing if Pistorius is found guilty;
  3. The final conclusion that doctors could make is that Pistorius' mental health isn't a factor and it didn't cause him to act differently in the shooting.