Oscar Pistorius, aka The Blade Runner, has appeared before a Magistrate court in Pretoria this Friday morning to answer for charges against him for the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp, his girlfriend, on Thursday night.
When the news broke, everyone went berserk with speculations: What happened? How did it happen? Who 'dunnit?
Then it began to emerge that the 30 year old Reeva Steenkamp, model girlfriend of the blade man, may have been mistaken for a burglar.
Local media reported that she was shot through a bathroom door.
South African Police Service were shocked at this speculation, wondering where it could've emanated from, 'cos even as at this time, events surrounding the unfortunate event are still unclear. What is clear though, is that the woman is dead. . . She was shot. . . In Pistorius' home. . . Pistorius himself has been arrested and charged with murder for the crime. . . And a murder weapon was found. . .
What actually happened? . . . We'll get to know soon enough.
Oscar Pistorius is considered a South African National hero, and this murder has shocked the Southern African nation to its bones.
Pistorius, 26, reportedly shot his 30 year old model girlfriend in the head, arm and shoulder. Paramedics were at the athlete's property in the Silver Woods gated community in eastern Pretoria when police arrived, but she died at the scene. A 9mm pistol was recovered (See Pic.).
Pistorius spent the night in custody and was subject to blood-alcohol, DNA and other tests, as forensics experts continued to work at the crime scene at his home in an upmarket gated estate.
As he stood before magistrate Desmond Nair Friday with his head bowed, it's reported that he broke down in tears. Local news correspondent Barry Bateman described him as "sobbing uncontrollably" as he sat in the dock.
An application to televise the hearing live was rejected, however cameras were allowed to be used while the magistrate was not in court.
South Africa has among the highest rates of crime in the world and many residents keep weapons to protect themselves against intruders.
Mr Pistorius races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades after he was born without a fibula in both legs and had both legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday.
He reached the 400m semi-finals in the London 2012 Olympics. At the Paralympics he won silver in the T44 200m, gold in the 4x100 relay and gold in the T44 400m, setting a Paralympic record.
For years he dominated in his category at successive Paralympic Games.
In 2008 he won a legal battle over his blades with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to compete in able-bodied competitions.
His achievements have made him a "living legend" and placed him among global sporting royalty.
What will become of the Blade Runner now?!. . .
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