Pistorius Weeps Over Murder Charge

South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is charged with the murder of his model girlfriend.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

Sports, World

Topics

Sports, Africa

People

Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp

Places

South Africa, Pretoria

Transcript

South African runner Oscar Pistorius, head in his hands, in court. He'd just been charged with murder -- for shooting dead his girlfriend in his Pretoria home. The 26-year-old Olympic and Paralympic superstar sobbed after the charge was read out. Prosecutors told the court they would argue the shooting of 30-year old model Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of February 14 was pre-meditated. Pistorius' brother and father sat behind him in the packed courtroom for the 40-minute hearing, occasionally patting him on the shoulder. Earlier, the double amputee - who became one of the biggest names in world atheltics - was seen leaving a local police station with his head covered, flanked by police. Steenkamp, a law graduate, was found shot dead in Pistorius' plush Pretoria home in the middle of a heavily guarded gated complex. A statement from Pistorius' agent, issued after the hearing, disputed the allegation of murder in the "strongest terms". The case, which has stunned South Africa, continues.