"Blade Runner" Pistorius to Appear in Court Friday

South African "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, will appear in court on Friday, after being charged with murdering his girlfriend, prosecutors say.

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3 months ago

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Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, Kenny Oldwage

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An Olympic sensation charged with murder. Reporters gathered outside a Pretoria court Thursday for details on the arrest of South African track star Oscar Pistorius. The double amputee dubbed "Blade Runner" who became a sports icon by competing with able-bodied athletes at the Olympics, was charged Thursday with shooting his girlfriend, 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp. Prosecutor Medupe Simasiku. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY OFFICIAL, MEDUPE SIMASIKU SAYING: "He will be appearing tomorrow at nine o'clock at the Pretoria Magistrate Court. The reason he did not appear today is because the police are still busy with preliminary investigations." The investigation is just underway but there is already fallout for the gold medalist and world record holder. A South African TV channel said it will immediately pull off the air all its ads featuring Pistorius, whose sponsorship deals are thought to be worth $2 million a year. Pistorius, seen here leaving a police station Thursday, has not made any public statements yet. His lawyer, Kenny Oldwage. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSCAR PISTORIUS' LAWYER, KENNY OLDWAGE SAYING: "He is very well - obviously emotional, but he is fine guys." In a sad irony, some of his girlfriend's last Twitter postings suggested she looked forward to Valentine's Day, on Thursday, the day she was killed.