The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius resumed on Monday after a month of evaluation by mental health experts to see if the athlete has anxiety disorder. It could be a possibility that an anxiety disorder might have led him to murder his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The panel of one psychologist and three psychiatrists were expected to handover the report on conclusion to Judge Thokozile Masipa. The panel was tasked to assess whether the double-amputee runner was capable of understanding that what he did to his girlfriend was wrong. He shot Steenkamp through a closed toilet door in his home on Valentine's Day last year.

The assessments of a panel at a state psychiatric hospital will play a big role in determining whether he has to be punished for the crime after holding him criminally responsible. And if he has to be punished in the event of conviction, then what would be the severity of the sentence.

A psychiatrist, Dr. Merryll Vorster, testified for the defense that Pistorius actually had an anxiety disorder that could be the major cause behind his action to kill his girlfriend in the early hours of February 14, 2013. He testified that Pistorius shot his girlfriend mistakenly, thinking that there was a dangerous intruder in the toilet.

Pistorius has said to the court that he feels vulnerable because of his disability and long-held worry about crime.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has alleged that murder of the 29-year-old model was intentional. Nel said the duo had an argument after which Pistorius opened fire on the girl. Nel said the Olympic athlete is a hothead with a dangerous love for guns.

If found guilty, the Olympic and Paralympic athlete could face a life sentence.