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 on Thursday. 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. Beukes said he would apply for bail, but the South African Police Service would oppose the application.
Beukes said there had been “previous incidents” at Pistorius’ home.
Pistorius was taken into custody after the shooting early Thursday morning at his home in a gated complex in the country’s capital, Pretoria.
Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale told The Associated Press that police received a call in the early hours of the morning that there had been a shooting at the double-amputee runner’s home.
Police say Pistorius was taken into custody after the shooting early Thursday morning at his home. Reuters
Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive the woman, who had been shot an unspecified number of times. Mogale said the woman died at the house.
Officers found a 9-mm pistol at the scene and took the 26-year-old Pistorius into custody.
Pistorius made history at the London Olympics last year when he became the first double-amputee runner to compete on the track at the Games and is one of South Africa’s most famous sportsman.
Having had both his legs amputated below the knee when he was less than a year old, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes and finally was cleared by sport’s highest court to be able to run at the top events.
He competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa’s 4×400 relay team at the London Games and also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.
AP
