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Dublin: 11 °C Thursday 20 June, 2013

Oscar Pistorius disputes murder charge “in the strongest terms”

In a statement issued through his family, the athlete sent his “deepest sympathies” to the family of his girlfriend.

Athlete Oscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa.
Athlete Oscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa.
Image: Antoine de Ras/AP

OSCAR PISTORIUS’ FAMILY have issued a statement on his behalf in which they say that the “alleged murder” of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is “disputed in the strongest terms”.

Earlier today lawyers representing the athlete were been granted a postponement for a bail application until Tuesday to allow time for their own investigations into the death of the model. Pistorius will be held in custody until then in a local police station.

At the start of today’s hearing, the Paralympian broke down in tears with one local reporter stating he ‘sobbed uncontrollably’.

“Oscar Pistorius has made history as an Olympic and Paralympic sportsman and has been an inspiration to others the world over,” his family’s statement said.

He has made it very clear that he would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva. He would also like to express his thanks through us today for all the messages of support he has received – but as stated our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family – regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.

Pistorius’ model girlfriend was found dead in the early hours of St Valentine’s day, shot four times in the upper body and head with a 9mm pistol.

Though early media reports said it may have been a case of mistaken identity, prosecutors made it clear they were going to pursue a pre-meditated murder charge.

Read: Oscar Pistorius breaks down in court as bail hearing postponed>

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Comments (7 Comments)

  • n365 15/02/13 #

    How come I can post a comment here and not in the story of Michael le vell ?? Both have court cases pending?

    Reply
    • JayK 15/02/13 #

      Le Vell is only across the pond, probably a lot of ex-pats in the UK read TheJournal (myself included). I can’t imagine it has a massive demographic in South Africa though.

      Reply
  • Not sure am I to excited with the fact the one of the first things his family have done is fly out PR gura from London to handle the publicity side of things .
    This is going to be a case of similar size to that of OJ Simpson.

    Reply
  • I do not know how he is going to dispute these charges . According to TV reports they were the only two in the house at the time and she clearly did not shoot herself four times !
    It has also come out that the police had to be called to the residence before for domestic issues . I hope this case helps people , who are in abusive relationships , to get out fast before they too end up in a similar situation .

    Reply
  • Ths little shit put 4 bullets into the body of his girlfriend of 4 months. What part of this is hard to understand. I hope he burns in hell.

    Reply
  • Journal are all over the place recently.

    Afraid of something or someone it seems.

    Reply

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