Pistorius to appear in court on murder charge

Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is due to appear in court today after being arrested on suspicion of murdering his girlfriend after she was shot dead at his home.

Gold-medal winner Mr Pistorius, known as Blade Runner for his prosthetic racing legs, was taken into custody yesterday over the killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

The 30-year-old was shot in the head and upper body.

As Mr Pistorius was held for questioning, police said there had been previous incidents of a “domestic nature” at the property on the exclusive gated Silver Lakes Golf Estate in the South African city of Pretoria.

Initial reports suggested the model may have been mistaken for a burglar, but Brigadier Denise Beukes said police were “very surprised” by that suggestion, adding: “These allegations did not come from us.”

He said there was no sign of forced entry at the house: “I can’t confirm that it’s related to the person that’s arrested but I can confirm there has previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorius.”

Police spokeswoman Lt Colonel Katlego Mogale told the South African Press Association: “Paramedics declared the woman dead on the scene and police proceeded with their investigation. The woman sustained wounds to her head and the upper body.”

A 9mm pistol was recovered. According to unconfirmed reports, four shots were fired.

Police said an application for bail by Mr Pistorius’s lawyer Kenny Oldwage would be opposed when he appears in court.

Initial rumours suggested the shooting may have been a Valentine’s Day surprise gone wrong.

The couple had only been going out since November.

Ms Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, on Wednesday tweeted about Valentine’s Day: “What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay.”

Mr Pistorius, 26, walked with head bowed from the Boschkop police station before being taken to Pretoria’s Mamelodi Day Hospital in a police convoy.

Brig Beukes said: “They [hospital staff] test under the nails, they look for scratches, bruises, and blood is taken for alcohol and drug screening.”

Mr Pistorius appeared to have serious concerns about his safety and was said to sleep with a revolver by his side.

The athlete made history at the London 2012 Olympics becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete in the able-bodied Games, running in the 400m and 4x400m relay.

The star was born without fibulas and underwent below-the-knee amputations at just 11 months old.

He had to win a legal battle over his blades with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2008 for the right to compete in able-bodied competition.

Mr Pistorius’s father, Henke Pistorius, told SABC radio news: “I don’t know the facts... If anyone makes a statement, it will have to be Oscar... He’s sad at the moment.”

On her Twitter biography, Ms Steenkamp described herself as a “Model, Cover Girl, Tropika Island Of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Child of God”.

Tropika Island Of Treasure is a TV show she was due to appear on this weekend.