Oscar Pistorius murder charge: South African police deny burglary claims

Sprinter charged with murdering girlfriend, as police deny making claims that he had thought she was an intruder

Oscar Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

The South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, who died of gunshot wounds at his home on Thursday morning.

Officials in Pretoria said Pistorius, 26, was due to appear at a correctional services police court at 2pm local time but the case was later delayed until Friday.

A police spokeswoman, Denise Beukes, said (video) earlier reports that the suspect had been surprised by his girlfriend and had thought she was an intruder had not come from police.

"The South Africa police service were just as surprised this morning to hear on the radio that allegations had been made that the deceased had been perceived to be a burglar. We were very surprised and those allegations did not come from us."

Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Beukes said witnesses and neighbours claim to have heard unusual sounds on Wednesday evening and when the shooting took place. There had "previously been allegations of a domestic nature at Mr Pistorius's home", she said, adding that Pistorius was being "treated like any other normal person".

"He will be bringing a bail application and we will be opposing bail." There were no other suspects in the case.

Earlier, police said they had launched a murder investigation after a 30-year-old woman was found dead in the upmarket Silver Lakes gated community, where the Paralympic and Olympic runner lives. It is believed she was shot four times.

There was speculation in the local media that Pistorius may have mistaken his girlfriend for a burglar and the shooting could have been the result of a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong.

Pistorius leaving Boshkop police station in Pretoria.

Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale, a police spokeswoman, said: "Currently there are wild stories going around in the media," she said. "We are collecting evidence and will be guided by that evidence."

Pistorius's father said his son was sad after the shooting. "I don't know nothing," Henke Pistorius told SABC radio news. "It will be extremely obnoxious and rude to speculate. I don't know the facts. If anyone makes a statement, it will have to be Oscar. He's sad at the moment."

Steenkamp, a well-known South African model, had been dating Pistorius since November and was due to appear in a reality TV show called Tropika Island of Treasure. The law graduate from Port Elizabeth gave an interview to the Sunday Times in South Africa last week in which she described her boyfriend as "an impeccable man who always has her best interests at heart".

She had featured in the South African edition of FHM magazine. Hagen Engler, its former editor, said he had known her since around the age of 15 in Port Elizabeth, where they grew up. "She was the face of Avon or something like that," he said. "She was an amazing girl, a really intelligent person.

"She was a businesswoman as well and I think she had a law degree. She went into the modelling industry and had a mature understanding of it. She had a good sense of humour, like a guy's sense of humour. She was determined to succeed in the world of modelling and she really worked at it."

The sprinter made history at London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Engler, a freelance journalist, said he had not seen her with Pistorius: "When the newspapers started saying Oscar Pistorius was going out with her, it was like: 'That's my girl.' But I'm no expert on her relationship status."

Her death came as a huge shock, he said. "It's a hammerblow. It was like: 'I know her, oh my God'. I've been trying to process it. It's a real tragedy that such a bright girl has gone."

A spokesperson for the magazine said: "FHM was shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic passing of FHM cover girl Reeva Steenkamp. Our thoughts go out to her family and friends during this difficult and painful time. FHM knew Reeva as a beautiful, intelligent and warm-hearted woman who was a joy to work with and everyone at FHM mourns her untimely passing. May she rest in peace."

South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic committee (Sascoc) said in a statement it had been inundated with requests for comment but were not in a position to give out any details of the shooting.

He is known as Blade Runner because of the carbon-fibre prosthetic blades he wears to race. Both legs were amputated when he was 11 months

"Sascoc, like the rest of the public, knows no more than what is in the public domain … The organisation is in no position to comment on the incident other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."

Pistorius, known as Blade Runner because of the carbon-fibre prosthetic blades he wears to race, is one of the world's best-known Paralympic stars. He was born without fibulas in both legs, which were amputated when he was 11 months. He made history at London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in both the Olympics and Paralympics, racing in the 400m and 4x400m relay at the Olympics.

Pistorius poses for photographers after receiving his honorary 

doctorate from  Strathclyde University last year.

The Johannesburg-born athlete won a legal battle over his blades with the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2008 for the right to compete in able-bodied competition.