South African runner arrested by police after
body of his girlfriend found at his Pretoria
house, local media reports.
Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been
arrested over the fatal shooting of his
girlfriend at his home in Pretoria, local media
reports say.
Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale told the AP
news agency that police received a call on
Thursday morning that there had been a
shooting at Pistorius' home.
Mogale said that when police arrived they
found paramedics trying to revive a 30-year-
old woman who had been shot an unspecified
number of times. The woman died at the
home, Mogale said.
Officers found a 9mm pistol at the scene and
took the 26-year-old Pistorius into custody.
Mogale said Pistorius was expected to appear
in court later on Thursday.
Talk Radio 702 said Pistorius was believed to
have shot his girlfriend, a model, in the head
and arm, although the circumstances were
unclear. He may have mistaken her for a
burglar, the radio report said.
'Blade Runner'
Reeva Steenkamp was reported to have been
dating Pistorius for a year. In the social pages
of last weekend's Sunday
Independent, she described Pistorius as
having "impeccable" taste.
"His gifts are always thoughtful," she was
quoted as saying.
Pistorius, who is known as "Blade Runner,"
races wearing carbon-fibre prosthetic blades
after he was born without a fibula in both
legs.
He was the first double amputee to run in the
Olympics and reached the 400 semi-finals in
London 2012.
In last year's Paralympics he suffered his first
loss over 200 metres in nine years. After the
race he sullied his media darling persona
somewhat by questioning the legitimacy of
Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira's prosthetic
blades. The comments sparked controversy,
though Pistorius was quick to express his
regret.
South Africa has some of the world's highest
rates of violent crime and many home owners
have weapons to defend themselves against
intruders.
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