Oscar Pistorius – South African paralympic superstar and national hero Oscar Pistorius — a double amputee who competed with high-tech artificial legs — was charged Thursday with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, a model who was an advocate against rape and the abuse of women.
Steenkamp was shot four times in Pistorius’ home in a gated community in Pretoria, the country’s capital, in the early-morning hours.
He is the only suspect, according to reports, and there have been other cases of domestic violence calls to his home. A 9 mm pistol was recovered and a murder case opened against Pistorius.
It is shocking news in South Africa, which wrapped its arm around Pistorius, called “Blade Runner” because he ran with steel, blade-like contraptions as his feet.
Pistorius was born with a rare disease and had both his legs amputated when he was 11. He was questioned for hours and eventually left a police station accompanied by officers. He looked down as photographers snapped pictures, the hood on his gray workout jacket pulled up, covering most of his face. His court hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon but has been postponed until Friday to allow more time for a forensics investigation, said Medupe Simasiku, a spokesperson for the prosecution.
Police said there had “previously been incidents at the home of Mr. Oscar Pistorius.” Police in South Africa do not name suspects in crimes until they have appeared in court but police spokesperson Denise Beukes said that the 26-year-old Pistorius was at his home at the time of the death and “there is no other suspect involved.
“Yes, there are witnesses and there have also been interviews this morning,” Beukes told reporters outside the gated complex where Pistorius lived. “We are talking about neighbors and people that heard things that happened earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place.”
Police said that earlier reports that Steenkamp may have been mistaken for a burglar by Pistorius did not come from the police. Several local media outlets had initially reported that the shooting may have been accidental.
“It would be very premature and very irresponsible of me to say what actually has happened,” Beukes said. “There have been allegations. We are not sure.”
Beukes also said there had been previous incidents and “allegations of a domestic nature” at the home of the Olympic star. He is one of South Africa’s and the world’s most famous sportsmen and made history at the London Games last year by being the first double-amputee runner to compete at the Olympics.
“I’m not going to elaborate on it but there have been incidents (at Pistorius’ home),” Beukes said.
Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive a 30-year-old woman, who had been shot four times. Mogale, who was speaking to the Associated Press from the scene, said the woman died at the house.
Steenkamp, known simply as Reeva, was one of FHM’s (formerly For Him Magazine) 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two years running. She appeared in many international and national advertisements and was one of the celebrity contestants on Tropika Island of Treasure, filmed in Jamaica.
