Wemmerpan serial killer Cedric Maake was unable to control his rage and had little chance of being rehabilitated, the Johannesburg High Court heard in mitigation of sentence on Monday.
Maake was found guilty earlier this month on 27 counts of murder, 26 of attempted murder, 41 of armed robbery, 14 of rape and four of unlawful possession of firearms, attempted robbery and assault.
Clinical psychologist Saths Cooper told the court Maake's rage was difficult to control due to its highly explosive nature.
"He (Maake) is a fairly insecure, fractured individual who, when certain circumstances arise, needed to express certain powers," he said.
Cooper told the court that Maake's crimes were controlled but once he started the crime, such as assaulting a victim, it was difficult for him to stop due to his rage.
"Once he starts he cannot stop ... unless the rage wears off," he said.
Cooper handed a drawing of a man to the court which Maake had done while under clinical examination.
He described the drawing as bizarre saying that an individual without any artistic talent would have done a better drawing.
"This type of drawing you would expect from a toddler.'
Maake drew a man without ears and a nose, almost no difference between the neck and body and short arms ending at the waist.
Cooper said the man had very little clothes and definition.
He said the drawing indicated that Maake had an anti-social personality disorder and an impulsive control disorder.
There was very little chance of Maake being rehabilitated, Cooper said. He agreed with the state that Maake should be described as dangerous.
Inspector Renier Smith, who works at the criminal record centre in Johannesburg, on Monday showed the court Maake's fingerprints which linked him to three other crimes in 1996. They were assault, robbery and assault to do grievous bodily harm.
The state said these crimes were evidence of violent behaviour.
Closing arguments will resume after lunch.
Maake is 36 years old and has four children. He was arrested on December 23 1997. - Sapa