Pistorius covers his face in the courtroom during his hearing on charge of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
DPA/Pretoria
South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius wept in court yesterday as he faced a charge of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The 26-year-old athlete, a national icon for his track achievements, denies the charge of premeditated murder “in the strongest terms”, his family said in a statement.
He will stay in custody until a bail hearing Tuesday, while legal consultations and a police probe continue. His defence team denies premeditated murder and is seeking a lesser charge.
The track sensation sobbed as prosecutors told a judge that they were charging him with the murder of Steenkamp, 29, who was found shot dead in his apartment early on Thursday, Valentine’s Day.
His family said that “the alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms” but that legal proceedings “must be allowed to take their course”, in a statement issued by his management agency.
Pistorius “has made it very clear that he would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva”, they said. “Our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family – regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.”
Wearing a dark suit, the athlete broke down when the words “premeditated murder” were said in the packed Pretoria courtroom.
Relatives placed their hands on his back to comfort him.
Judge Desmond Nair agreed to Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux’s request for a postponement, supported by prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku said: “He will be kept at Brooklyn police station (in Pretoria), and that is where he will be able to meet with his defence team.”
Pistorius left the court with clouded eyes as he passed his father Henke Pistorius, a key figure in his life.
Pistorius was born without fibulas, and his legs were amputated when he was a child. He is known as the “Blade Runner” because he uses special carbon fibre prosthetic blades to sprint.
He became the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, in London last year, having won a legal battle to be allowed to take part.
He previously won numerous gold medals in the Paralympics.
The once media-friendly sprinter covered his face with his jacket as police transferred him yesterday morning from the police station where he spent the night to Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
Judge Nair ruled that cameras would not be allowed in court.
Police have continued forensic investigations and reviewed closed-circuit TV footage from his house in a gated residential complex near the administrative capital Pretoria.
Broadcaster eNCA said the footage showed Steenkamp arriving at the house on the evening before the shooting.
The Beeld newspaper reported, quoting a resident, that police were called to the home two hours before the shooting after neighbours heard an argument.
Police later found Steenkamp, a model with an acting career, shot four times and recovered a handgun. Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.
Police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said that there had been prior “allegations of a domestic nature” at Pistorius’ home.
An early report indicated Pistorius may have mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder, but this was not mentioned in court.
Pistorius spent most of Thursday being questioned by police. He also underwent medical tests.
The athlete has numerous sponsorships from brands such as Nike.
South African private broadcaster M-Net dropped an advertisement featuring Pistorius after Steenkamp’s death.
A new reality television show starring Steenkamp was scheduled to air this weekend in South Africa, and broadcaster SABC said it would not change its schedule.