Oscar Pistorius charged with murder after girlfriend shot dead

Denise Beukes, a spokesperson for the South African National Police, discusses the shooting at the home of Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius that left his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, fatally wounded.

Source, credit to Aljazeera- http://www.aljazeera.com/video

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South African star sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend and will appear in a Pretoria court on Thursday afternoon, police have confirmed.

Pistorius, 26, is alleged to have killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died of gunshot wounds at his home in a gated-community in the city this morning.

Police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said earlier reports that the suspect had been surprised by his girlfriend and had thought she was an intruder did not come from police.

She said there had been reports from neighbours of shouting and screaming coming from the house earlier in the evening. She said police had been called to the house on previous occasions after reports of "a domestic nature".

She said Pistorius was being "treated like any other normal person".

"He will be bringing a bail application and we will be opposing bail", she said, adding that there were no other suspects in the case.

Earlier, police said they had opened a murder investigation after a 30-year-old woman was found dead in the upmarket Silver Lakes gated community on the outskirts of the capital, where the Paralympic and Olympic runner lives. It is believed she was shot four times.

"We found a 9mm pistol at the scene. A 26-year-old man was taken into custody," a police spokeswoman said.

There was speculation in the local media that Pistorius may have mistaken his girlfriend for a burglar and the shooting could have been a result of a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong.

Katlego Mogale told the Associated Press that officers received a call in the early hours of the morning that there had been a shooting. When police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive the woman, who had been shot and died at the scene, he said.

There was a large police presence outside Pistorius's house and media descended on the estate where the shooting happened.. Earlier, a police spokesman had described the the sprinter as being distraught. "We can't comment on his emotional wellbeing, but he is traumatised after losing someone close to him," he said.

Steenkamp, 30, a well-known South African model, had been dating Pistorius since November and was due to appear in a reality TV show called Tropika Island of Treasure. The law graduate from Port Elizabeth gave an interview to the Sunday Times in South Africa last week in which she described her boyfriend as "an impeccable man who always has her best interests at heart".

In the last 24 hours she was tweeting about her hopes for Valentine's Day, writing: "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay." In one of her last tweets she responded to one follower who said she was going to make her husband a card with her children. Steenkamp wrote: "That sounds amazing! Wow that's what it's all about! It should be a day of love for everyone :) may it be blessed!"

Steenkamp's publicist Sarit Tomlinson told Sky News that she was a "talented bright young girl" whose star was rising. "She was the sweetest human being and an absolute angel on Earth," she said. "She was the kindest most unbelievable girl." She said Steenkamp and Pistorius had been together for a couple of months in "a healthy fabulous relationship".

On Steenkamp's Facebook page -- where she described herself as "SA Model, FHM Cover Girl, Tropika Island of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Ambassador" -- tributes poured in. Sibi Tshego Sibanda wrote: "Heaven has gained an Angel. Rest in peace," and Elmarie Hattingh wrote: "Rest in Peace Reeva, May God be with the family and friends."

Source http://www.guardian.co.uk

Read more here http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/...

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[elize Jonck]

oscar is SA hero...So don't be mean to him,he didn't shoot her purposely,it was a accident

[360000k]

you need psychiatric help, please call 1 800 f.u.c.k. y.o.u.!!!!!