Oscar Pistorius charged with murder after shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp February 14, 2013 10:13PM
SOUTH Africa's Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend after model Reeva Steenkamp was shot inside the Olympic athlete's home in South Africa.
Police said a 26-year-old male would appear in court later tonight.
Police in South Africa do not name suspects in crimes until they have appeared in court but police spokesperson Brigadier Denise Beukes said that Pistorius was at his home after the death of Steenkamp and "there is no other suspect involved".
Beukes said the suspect was undergoing blood alcohol and forensic tests and had made a request to be brought to court immediately.
Stating that earlier reports that the victim was mistaken for an intruder "did not come from us" police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said "there's previously been incidents of allegations of domestic disputes at the home of the accused".
"The state will be opposing bail," she added.
VIDEO: Pistorius arrested
The athlete known as the “Blade Runner” was arrested early today following the shooting at his home in an upscale area near the South African capital of Pretoria.
Police spokesman Katlego Mogale said a “26-year-old man had been taken into custody for shooting a 30-year-old woman”.
Pistorius' father Henke later confirmed the athlete was in custody.
"I haven't seen him, he is with the police and the matter is in the hands of the authorities," said Henke Pistorius. "Obviously we are shocked."
“The deceased was shot four times and died on the scene. It is believed that she was the girlfriend of the accused,” said Mogale.
Officers found a 9-mm pistol at the scene.
The shooting took place in a house inside an upmarket security compound in Silverlakes, outside Pretoria, he said. Pistorius lives in the compound.
The “Blade Runner” made history in 2012 when he became the first amputee to compete in the Olympics.
He won gold in the 4x400m relay at the Paralympic Games.
He had both legs amputated below the knee before the age of one, because of a congenital condition, and runs on carbon fibre blades.
Last year Time Magazine named him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.
The Johannesburg-born runner had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old after being born without lower leg bones. But he played sports unhindered while growing up, switching to running after fracturing a knee playing rugby.
At high school, he was so good that his personal fitness coach said she was unaware for six months that he ran on prosthetic legs.
But he was initially banned from competing in the Olympics in Beijing by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on the grounds that his blades gave him an unfair advantage.
That decision was later overturned on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), although he ultimately failed to meet the Olympic qualifying standard time.
He went on to win a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team at the 2011 World Championships in South Korean city of Daegu before representing his country at the London Olympics and Paralympics last year.
Off the track, Pistorius is an adrenalin junkie, with a love of speed reflected in a passion for motorbikes.
Four years ago he crashed his boat in a river south of Johannesburg, breaking two ribs, an eye socket and his jaw.
He also once owned two white tigers but sold them to a zoo in Canada when they became too big.
AFP
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/oscar-pistorius-shoots-dead-girlfriend-reports-say/story-e6frg6so-1226578178739