Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has allegedly shot his girlfriend dead after mistaking her for a burglar.
PARALYMPIC superstar Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs.
Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said.
Hours later after undergoing police questioning, Pistorius left a police station accompanied by officers. He looked down as photographers snapped pictures, the hood on his grey workout jacket pulled up, covering most of his face. His court hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon local time but has been postponed until Friday to give forensics investigators time to carry out their work, said Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman 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 Brigadier Denise Beukes said that Pistorius was at his home at the time of the death of Steenkamp and "there is no other suspect involved".
"Yes there are witnesses and there have also been interviews this morning," Brigadier Beukes told reporters outside the gated complex where Pistorius lived. "We are talking about neighbours 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.
Oscar Pistorius with his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at an awards show in November. Picture: AFP
"It would be very premature and very irresponsible of me to say what actually has happened," Brigadier Beukes said. "There have been allegations. We are not sure."
Brigadier Beukes also said there had been previous incidents and "allegations of a domestic nature" at the home of the Olympic star and double-amputee runner, who 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)," Brigadier Beukes said.
Capacity Relations, a talent management firm, earlier named model Steenkamp as the victim of the shooting. Police spokeswoman Lt Col Katlego Mogale told The Associated Press that officers received a call around 3am after the shooting.
A 9 mm pistol was recovered and a murder case opened against Pistorius.
Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius (centre) leaves the Boshkop police station in Pretoria East after allegedly shooting dead his model girlfriend. Picture: AFP
Lt Col Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive a 30-year-old woman, who had been shot four times. Lt Col Mogale, who was speaking from the scene, said the woman died at the house.
Police have still not released the name of the woman, but the publicist for Steenkamp confirmed in a statement that the model was dead.
"We can confirm that Reeva Steenkamp has passed away," Steenkamp's publicist Sarit Tomlinson said. "We are in communication with people on the scene, please wait for official statements, as there is too much speculation at this moment in time. We will provide further information as soon as we are able to provide accurate information as to what transpired.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the Steenkamp family, who have asked to have their privacy respected during this difficult time, everyone is simply devastated. She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed.
Tomlinson said Steenkamp, known simply as Reeva, was one of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two years running, appeared in countless international and national advertisements and was one of the celebrity contestants on Tropika Island of Treasure, filmed in Jamaica.
Oscar Pistorius competes at the 2012 Paralympics in London. File picture
On Twitter, she tweeted messages urging women to stand up against rape alongside her excitement about Valentine's Day. "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow?" she tweeted. "It should be a day of love for everyone."
Lt Col Mogale and Brigadier Beukes said the victim's family had not yet identified the body.
Pistorius made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, propelling him to the status of an athletics superstar.
Having had both his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday because of a congenital condition, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes. Having initially been banned because of his carbon fibre blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - he was cleared by sport's highest court in 2008 and allowed to run at the top events.
He competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team at the London Games, making history after having his selection confirmed on South Africa's team at the very last minute. He also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.
Reeva Steenkamp, seen here at a Sport Industry Awards night in Johannesburg on February 7. Picture: Getty Images
Pistorius was to race in Australia for the first time at the Sydney Track Classic on March 9 and in Perth seven days later.
Athletics Australia CEO Dallas O'Brien said he was unaware how the reported shooting of his girlfriend would impact on his planned tour.
"Obviously we have been made aware of the tragic news story developing in South Africa around Oscar Pistorius and the reported shooting of his girlfriend,'' he said.
"Clearly, all the details around this incident are still coming to light, and for this reason we have no information at this time about how this affects Oscar's plans."
South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic committee released a statement saying they had been "inundated" with requests for comment but were not in a position to give out any details of the shooting.
"SASCOC, like the rest of the public, knows no more than what is in the public domain, which is there has been an alleged fatal shooting on the basis of a mistaken identity and an apparent assumption of a burglary," the South African Olympic committee said. "The organization is in no position to comment on the incident other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."
The International Paralympic Committee also said it wouldn't comment in detail apart from offering its condolences to the victim's family.
"This is a police matter, with a formal investigation currently underway," the IPC said. "Therefore it would be inappropriate for the IPC to comment on this incident until the official police process has concluded. The IPC would like to offer its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families involved in this case."
South Africa has some of the world's highest murder rates, with nearly 50 people killed each day in the nation of 50 million. It also has high rates of rape, other assaults, robbery and carjackings.
UN statistics show South Africa has the second highest rate of shooting deaths in the world, second only to Colombia.
Almost six million South Africans have guns, and the nation has one of the world's highest gun ownership rates at 12.7 firearms per 100 people.
Pistorius lives in Pretoria, which was recently named one of the most dangerous places in the country when it comes to house robberies.
A recent report named the city as one of the top 20 most dangerous and violent areas to live in.
The capital also has four suburbs in the 10 most dangerous places to live in South Africa when it comes to attempted murder, rape, street robberies and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (assault GBH).
Pretoria is nine hours behind Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
