Blade Runner Pistorius charged with murder

After girlfriend is found shot dead at his home in South Africa.

South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria.

Pistorius is understood to have shot her in the head, chest and arm, although the circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear. Initial reports coming from South Africa suggested he may have mistaken her for a burglar.

This morning Pistorius was questioned at Silverwoods Country Estate in connection with the shooting at his home in a gated community in the Silver Lakes area of Pretoria.

Pistorius leaves the Boschkop police station, east of Pretoria

It was initially reported that his girlfriend, former FHM model Miss Steenkamp, 30, was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he thought she was an intruder.
Pistorius will appear in Pretoria State Court at 2pm local time (12pm GMT) on Thursday afternoon, police spokeswoman Brigadier Denise Beukes said.
The spokeswoman also revealed there have been ‘previous incidents of a domestic nature’ reported at Pistorius’ home.
A spokesperson for Pistorius said that he is assisting police with their investigation into the death of a 30-year-old woman at his home this morning.

Pistorius competed at both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Police will oppose bail and have interviewed neighbours who 'heard things that happened earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place'. There was no sign of forced entry.

Brigadier Beukes said: 'A 26-year-old man has been arrested and has been charged with murder.
'At this stage he is on his way to the district surgeon for a medical examination and he will be appearing at Pretoria magistrates' courts at 2pm this afternoon.'

Brigadier Beukes revealed that police were 'very surprised' by the burglar suggestion, telling reporters near the scene: 'These allegations did not come from us.'
Brigadier Beukes added: 'There are witnesses and they have also been interviewed this morning.
'We're talking about neighbours and people that heard things that happened earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place.'
Forensic tests were continuing on the premises.

Ahead of this afternoon's court hearing, the spokeswoman said: 'We will be opposing bail applications. The person will be bringing a bail application.'

Police revealed that a 9mm pistol was recovered from the scene and that 26-year-old Pistorius had been taken into custody. The woman was apparently shot four times.
Paramedics were called to the house after the shooting and attempted to resuscitate the woman before declaring her dead at the scene.

Earlier in the day Police spokeswoman Katlego Mogale said: 'I can confirm that a woman has been fatally wounded in a shooting at Oscar Pistorius' house.

'A 26-year-old man has been taken into custody.
'The incident happened at 3am. We received a call and attended the scene. The call did not come from the man in custody but from another person.
'Currently there is an inquiry into what happened.'
A police spokesman added: ‘We can't comment on his emotional well-being, but he is traumatised after losing someone close to him.’

Sarit Tomlinson, Steenkamp’s publicist, told Sky News: ‘She was the sweetest human being and an absolute angel on earth. She was the kindest, most unbelievable girl.
‘They had been together for a couple of months and it had been a healthy, fabulous relationship. At the moment it’s shocking. No-one knows what’s happened.

‘She was a rising star. There was so much in the pipeline for her: she was just about to explode into the media.
‘She was a very talented, very bright young girl. It’s too shocking for words. We’ll miss her so much, too much. Our condolences go to her family.’
Steenkamp tweeted just hours before her death: 'What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay'