Despite speculation that double amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius accidently shot his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, prosecutors said they would pursue a “premeditated murder” charge for the incident.
The athlete rejected the murder allegation “in the strongest terms,” his agent, Peet Vanzuyl said.
When Pistorius, 26, left a police station before arriving at court, a media frenzy ensued and the runner had to cover his head with a coat. Upon arriving at the South African courthouse, Pistorius broke down in tears when the judge officially charged him.
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.
An application for bail was postponed until next Tuesday and Pistorius will remain in police custody.
The athlete released a statement by way of his agent that disputed the charge in the “strongest terms.”
The statement also said that “firstly, and most importantly, all our thoughts today must be with the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp.”