Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) – South African sports icon Oscar Pistorius broke into tears Friday when a judge officially charged him with killing his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
A grim-faced Pistorius, dressed in a dark suit, shook uncontrollably with his head buried in his hands during the hearing at a packed courtroom in Pretoria.
Prosecutors say they plan to charge him with premeditated murder.
The athlete rejected the murder allegation “in the strongest terms,” his agent, Peet Vanzuyl, told CNN.
His girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, was found in a pool of blood at his home Thursday in an upscale neighborhood in the capital.
Neighbors alerted authorities to the early morning shooting, saying they had “heard things earlier,” according to Denise Beukes, a police spokeswoman. She did not clarify what the neighbors heard.
The track star was arrested the same day.
Local media reported that he had mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder, but the spokeswoman said those reports did not come from authorities.
There was no evidence of forced entry at the home, she said.
Police gave no motive for the fatal shooting, but said there had been previous “allegations of a domestic nature” at his house. They did not provide details.
A pistol was recovered at the scene, police said.
South Africa has a high crime rate, and many homeowners keep weapons to ward off intruders.
“There are 1.5 million gun owners — about 3.5 million guns in civilians hands,” said Alan Storey, chairman of Gun Free South Africa.
Most of the victims of gun homicides are between the ages 20 and 30, according to Storey, who said such deaths are rampant in the nation of about 50 million.
“This tragedy is not more important than others, it is just because of the people involved,” he said.
Storey said the nation has tough legislation that includes a requirement for a thorough background check for prospective gun owners.
The check includes spouses and partners, and is repeated every few years, he said.
“People acquire guns believing they are more safe … but they place themselves at great risk,” Storey said. “We’ve made airplanes a gun-free zone. We need to bring that logic down to earth.”
But the South African Gunowners’ Association, a popular gun lobby group, has said citizens have the right to protect themselves from increasingly violent crimes.
“There are already more than enough laws and regulations to control the possession of firearms by private citizens,” it says on its website. “
Fewer and less complex laws reasonably, yet properly, applied could achieve the required objective.”
From hero to murder suspect
As the shocking allegations reverberated worldwide, stunned South Africans grappled with the news of their fallen hero.
When Pistorius was a toddler, his legs were amputated below the knees because of a bone defect, and he runs on special carbon fiber blades.
He became the first Paralympic sprinter competing against able-bodied athletes at the London Olympics last year.
His athletic prowess and prosthetics earned him the nickname “Blade Runner.”
South Africans jubilantly cheered him on at the time as his face became a fixture on billboards across the nation.
By Thursday, some of the billboards started coming down. His sponsors followed suit.
Nike pulled an ad featuring him from its website. It showed him taking off for a run, and the words “I am the bullet in the chamber.”
Other Pistorius sponsors — including prosthetics manufacturer Ossur, British Telecom, and Oakley, which makes sunglasses and other products — expressed condolences and said they had no further comment.
The sports icon appeared in headlines across the nation, overshadowing the State of the Union address by President Jacob Zuma.
“Golden Boy Loses Shine,” blared a headline on the front page of the Sowetan.
The Pretoria court postponed Pistorius’ bail hearing to Tuesday and ordered him to remain in custody until then. Prosecutors will argue that he committed premeditated murder.
Authorities said they will oppose bail, but did not provide their reasons for the decision.
He shattered barriers
The double amputee’s London Olympics appearance triggered controversy, as some said the prosthetic limbs gave him an advantage.
Pistorius was initially refused permission to enter the Olympics, but he hired a legal team to prove that his artificial limbs did not give him an unfair advantage, and was allowed to compete.
While he did not win a medal, his presence on the track was lauded as an example of victory over adversity and dedication to a goal.
In the 2012 Paralympic, held a few weeks after the Olympics, he smashed a record to win the men’s 400-meter in the final athletics event of the Games.
In October, he discussed the “massive blessing” of inspiring people around the world.
“Being an international sportsman, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that,” he told CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight.”
29 Comments to “Oscar Pistorius Weeps in Court on Murder Charge”
February 14, 2013 at 5:26 AM
til I saw the check which said $7346, I have faith …that…my best friend was like actually bringing in money parttime on-line.. there sisters roommate haz done this 4 less than 13 months and a short time ago repayed the mortgage on their apartment and got a top of the range Citroën 2CV. we looked here, http://qr.net/j8Sx
February 14, 2013 at 5:40 AM
Too bad your check bounced sucka. <g>
February 14, 2013 at 6:04 AM
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February 14, 2013 at 7:10 AM
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February 14, 2013 at 6:11 AM
That really sucks, this guy had such a good, positive thing going in his life too, this is tragic. Whatever the dispute was it wasn't worth this if this is actual. If it is true any sympathy for him from me will be gone. His wife looked like a beautiful lady, just a sad tragedy in my opinion.
February 14, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Why would a guy with no legs and a hot girlfriend, kill her? You IDIOT!
February 14, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Cuz he's white!
February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
just like tiger woods and his super hot wife……I guess for every good looking girl, here is a guy that is tired of her
February 14, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Accident and likely another example of PTSD. They should be questioning him about the murder but to charge him? I would bet he thought it was an intruder and he reacted. Someone looking for a promotion?
February 14, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Why would this be PTSD John? He was not a veteran of any wars, his lower limbs we amputated as a child? Did I miss something that indicated PTSD on the web somewhere?
February 14, 2013 at 11:25 AM
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February 14, 2013 at 1:05 PM
im lying, this website is a VIRUS, don't click on it.
February 14, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Stupid cracker!!
February 14, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Fear will cause you to o some crazy shit! He was always scared for his life in his home. If that a problem, then his ass should have moved someplace else.
February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
If you're from Africa, then why are you white?
February 14, 2013 at 2:18 PM
There are people in Africa who are white!
February 15, 2013 at 4:43 PM
Dumb
February 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Domestic violence rears it's ugly head again. RIP Reeva Steenkamp.
February 14, 2013 at 2:21 PM
I agree, RIP Reeva Steenkamp
February 14, 2013 at 12:16 PM
He thought it was an intruder…perhaps another "story" to get people up in arms in getting rid of arms…?
February 14, 2013 at 12:28 PM
it was Valentine's Day so why would he think it was an intruder? Unlikely story considering it was only him and his girlfriend who lived there….she is blonde. you would think unless she came in the house in dark clothing and camo at 3am he would know it was his gf. Very sad. Surprising since they had only dated a few months that a domestic dispute would lead to murder, but he apparently has a record for domestic incidents with other women. The fall of any man is sad but he was a hero to South Africa and an inspiration to people around the world of all ages. Very sad for the family of the woman.
February 14, 2013 at 12:44 PM
besides, he lived in an upscale, gated community with security. So who else would have access to enter his rich pad without his permission or security clearance? Not an intruder.
February 14, 2013 at 2:20 PM
In South Africa the intruders are ruthless and deadly. If you rad further he has guns and bats in his house for an intruder. But I do believe he knew it was his girlfriend coming in and is using this as a defense for murder.
February 14, 2013 at 1:05 PM
im lying, don't click on my website, it's a virus
February 14, 2013 at 4:27 PM
If only they had tougher gun control laws in South Africa…oh, wait…
February 14, 2013 at 8:28 PM
if a white guy from africa moves to america, is he considered an african american?……can he get EBT?….will he play the scratch off lotto tickets and eat fried chicken wangs n s**t?……..will he make welfare babies?…….i am right now….LMFAO!!!!!!!!
February 15, 2013 at 1:49 AM
Go play with your stub stubby.
February 15, 2013 at 4:44 PM
you so dumb go shot yourself
February 16, 2013 at 1:21 PM
When this news story broke, I heard it on the radio. The broadcaster said, "Oscar Pistorius, known for his amazing feats on the track…"
No kidding.