Cezanne Visser has battered woman syndrome and was subjected to the coercive control of her former lover, Dirk Prinsloo, the Pretoria High Court heard on Tuesday.

Head of Weskoppies hospital's clinical psychology department Professor Jonathan Scholtz testified that although this did not negate her ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions, her ability to act accordingly was severely compromised.

Scholtz was one of a panel of experts asked to observe Visser in 2007 after a high court judge referred her for mental observation to determine if she was criminally responsible for the offences with which she had been charged.

Visser has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges ranging from rape and indecent assault to manufacturing child pornography and coercing minors to commit indecent acts.

She has denied criminal responsibility for her actions, arguing that she was under Prinsloo's control and had no will of her own.

Scholtz said Visser was depressed when she was admitted to Weskoppies. She was fearful and suspicious that Prinsloo would come or send someone else.

She was under police guard at her own request. His impression was that Visser feared Prinsloo would interfere or stop her from talking.

A range of psychological changes

Scholtz testified that women with battered syndrome were able to think, but did not think further. Emotions like fear or humiliation tended to constrict their thoughts and had a numbing effect on them.

Strong emotions caused the release of hormones and also caused neurological changes and even structural changes in the brain if the exposure was over a long period.

This had a strong effect on a person's ability to follow normal thought processes and use their judgment effectively.

Scholtz testified that battered women often had conflicting feelings about the "power seeker" in their lives, both fearing and loving them because they were in turn punished and rewarded.

Visser's own ambivalence towards Prinsloo was clear when she was asked if she thought Prinsloo was a bad man. She said she did not think he was bad, but what he did was very bad.

It was also not unusual for such women to remain with or return to such abusive partners and to assimilate the power seeker's wants and wishes.

The trial continues on Thursday.