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Blade Runner: From Olympic Icon to Murderer?


BrySmalls

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http://worldnews.nbc...-shot-dead?lite

Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was being questioned at a police station Thursday after his girlfriend was shot dead at his South African home.

The victim had been shot at least twice and a 26-year-old man had been charged with murder, police said.

South African Police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said that Pistorius, 26, was at a police station near Pretoria, but did not name him as the individual charged. She said Pistorius and the victim were the only people present when the shooting took place. In South Africa, police do not identify suspects until they are formally charged in court.

Numerous media outlets reported that the sprinter -- who is nicknamed "Blade Runner" because he races wearing carbon fiber prosthetic blades -- may have mistaken the woman for a burglar.

Police would not confirm the victim's identity, but said they were "very surprised" to hear media reports that the shooting was possibly a case of mistaken identity.

A publicist for Reeva Steenkemp, a model whom Pistorius was dating, confirmed to NBC's TODAY that her client was dead. She described the incident as a "huge loss for everyone and too shocking for words."

Beukes said there were no signs of forced entry to the home and added that the man arrested had been charged with murder and that police would oppose any application he might make to be released on bail.

Beukes said there had been reports about previous problems at Pistorius' home which were "allegations of a domestic nature."

"There are witnesses and we have interviewed them," she said. "We're talking about neighbors who heard things earlier in the evening."

The Associated Press reported that a 9mm handgun had been found at his home in the luxurious Silver Woods gated community.

Earlier, a police spokesman told NBC News that "a 26-year-old man has been taken into custody following a complaint by a neighbor that there was a shooting at the home of Oscar Pistorius. He is being charged with murder and he will appear in the Pretoria regional court later this afternoon."

Pistorius, a double amputee born without fibulas in his legs, has trained hard to participate in the Olympics despite having to wear prosthetic legs. NBC's Mary Carillo reports.

Sarit Tomlinson, who is Steenkemp's publicist, told Britains' Sky News that the the pair had been together for a couple months.

"She was a rising star ... a very bright young girl," Tomlinson said. She noted that "no one knows what happened" but said "we are in communication with the people on the scene."

The Silver Woods Country Estate released a statement on its website early Thursday: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic cir­cum­stances that occurred today at Sil­ver Woods. Our sincere con­do­lences, thoughts and prayers go out to Reeva Steenkamp’s fam­ily and friends."

Steenkamp, a 30-year-old law school graduate, gushed about Valentine's Day on Twitter Wednesday, posting "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow???" and "It should be a day of love for everyone."

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Poor little Tink Tink! (I hope y'all know what this is from)

I don't pretend to know what was in his mind. However, it seems perfectly logical to me that someone thinking there was an intruder in his home would decide to shoot first and ask questions later. Isn't that what all these Internet Tough Guys say they'd do if they discovered someone in their home?

On January 16, 2013 at 3:49 PM, NJTank said:

Btw this is old hat for Notre Dame. Knits Rockne made up George Tip's death bed speech.

 

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She was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he shot her in the head. This is the worst thing ever.

Or not.

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A police spokeswoman said there had been "previous incidents" at the home, including "allegations of a domestic nature."

Police were alerted to the shooting by neighbors, and residents had "heard things earlier," spokeswoman Denise Beukes said.

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The guy has overcome so much...just to p*** it away in a fit of rage? Damn.

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She was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he shot her in the head. This is the worst thing ever.

Or not.

===

A police spokeswoman said there had been "previous incidents" at the home, including "allegations of a domestic nature."

Police were alerted to the shooting by neighbors, and residents had "heard things earlier," spokeswoman Denise Beukes said.

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The guy has overcome so much...just to p*** it away in a fit of rage? Damn.

There was a NY Times Magazine feature on him written 13 months ago. He is fairly wreckless and the story mentions excessive speeding, a boating accident and guns.

A decade ago, a former Springbok killed his 19 y.o. daughter as he suspected a car thief in the early morning. Murder charges for him were dropped.

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Its 2013 there are no heroes.

There never were heroes, just slower, more discrete news reporting. Not saying pistol toting Pistorius wouldn't have been vilified as a murderer back in the day. But many of the "heroes" from the past would have been destroyed by the modern news cycle. FDR would have been grilled to death for his affairs and lying to the public about his disability, the Babe would have been outed as a womanizer, domestic abuser and alcoholic, etc... etc... But unlike today the press back then were much more discrete and had a relationship with these people that was more important to them then selling a few extra papers on a one off "burn 'em" story.

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