Pistorius faces premeditated murder charge

Oscar Pistorius held his head in his hands and wept in court as prosecutors said they would pursue a charge of premeditated murder against the Paralympic superstar.

Pistorius was charged at Pretoria Magistrates Court with one count of murder for the slaying of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV show contestant.

The 30-year-old was shot multiple times and died at Pistorius’s upmarket home early on Thursday morning.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said it was premeditated murder, indicating that the prosecution would file that more serious charge, upgraded from murder.

The double-amputee athlete’s arrest and murder charge had already left South Africa stunned after Ms Steenkamp’s death on Valentine’s Day at Pistorius’s house in a gated community in an eastern suburb of South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.

Following the hearing, Pistorius’s family and his London management firm issued a statement calling into question the criminal charge the 26-year-old athlete faces.

“The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms,” the statement read. The statement did not elaborate.

The statement also said Pistorius wanted to “send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva”.

“He would also like to express his thanks through us today for all the messages of support he has received — but as stated our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family — regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy,” the statement read.

Those who knew Pistorius, including a former girlfriend, also weighed in on social media.

Trish Taylor, mother of Pistorius’s ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor, wrote on Facebook: “I’m so glad Sammy is safe and out of the clutches of that man.”

But another ex-girlfriend, Jenna Edkins, defended Pistorius in messages on Twitter.

“All I am saying is let him speak, let his side be heard without jumping to conclusions,” she wrote. She offered “love and support” to the Pistorius family and wrote: “I have dated Oscar on and off for 5 years, not once has he ever lifted a finger to me or made me fear for my life.”

Prosecutors said they would argue the history- making Olympic athlete — the first amputee to run at the games — had planned Ms Steenkamp’s killing. It sent South Africans reeling further as their national hero, and a global role model in overcoming adversity, was set to face accusations that he intentionally gunned down his girlfriend.

South Africa’s tabloid Citizen newspaper had the headline “Blade gunner?”, playing on double-amputee athlete Pistorius’s well- known nickname of “Blade Runner” because of his carbon fibre running blades.

Pistorius stood with his face in his hands as he broke down in tears on his first appearance at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nasir delayed Pistorius’s bail hearing until next Tuesday and Wednesday and ruled that Pistorius would be held at a police station in Pretoria until then. Police have said they oppose the granting of bail.

A solemn Pistorius entered the court wearing a grey suit and blue tie and initially appeared composed.

When he broke down in tears, his brother, Carl, reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder.

Pistorius’s father, Henke, was in the court and later reached over to comfort him as well.

More than 100 people packed into Courtroom C at the Pretoria Magistrates Court yesterday, including dozens of photographers and videographers. Nasir ruled that no recordings of court proceedings would be allowed in the case.

Police said investigators also conducted an autopsy on Ms Steenkamp’s body. Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said the results of the autopsy would not be published.

The Beeld newspaper — which first broke the dramatic news of his arrest — said the shots that killed Ms Steenkamp were fired through a bathroom door but there has been no police confirmation.