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| Pistorius Family Disputes Murder Charge | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JOHANNESBURG — Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, appeared at a courtroom in the South African capital Pretoria on Friday, sobbing openly and facing a single charge of murder, which his associates and family later said was “disputed.” | JOHANNESBURG — Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee track star accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, appeared at a courtroom in the South African capital Pretoria on Friday, sobbing openly and facing a single charge of murder, which his associates and family later said was “disputed.” |
| In a first public response to the accusation, Mr. Pistorius’s family and management team said in a statement that “the alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms,” news reports said. | In a first public response to the accusation, Mr. Pistorius’s family and management team said in a statement that “the alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms,” news reports said. |
| The statement also said Mr. Pistorius “would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family” of Reeva Steenkamp, a 30-year-old model whose body was found in a puddle of blood early Thursday at the athlete’s upmarket home in a gated compound in Pretoria. | The statement also said Mr. Pistorius “would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family” of Reeva Steenkamp, a 30-year-old model whose body was found in a puddle of blood early Thursday at the athlete’s upmarket home in a gated compound in Pretoria. |
| Mr. Pistorius did not enter a formal plea when he appeared in a packed courtroom for a bail hearing before the statement was issued. | Mr. Pistorius did not enter a formal plea when he appeared in a packed courtroom for a bail hearing before the statement was issued. |
| The defense asked magistrate Desmond Nair for a postponement and the case was adjourned until Tuesday. Mr. Pistorius remained in custody and will be held in a police station. | The defense asked magistrate Desmond Nair for a postponement and the case was adjourned until Tuesday. Mr. Pistorius remained in custody and will be held in a police station. |
| As lawyers and court officials debated whether the hearing should be televised, and at several other moments in the brief hearing, Mr. Pistorius cradled his head in his hands and wept. | As lawyers and court officials debated whether the hearing should be televised, and at several other moments in the brief hearing, Mr. Pistorius cradled his head in his hands and wept. |
| Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the prosecution would bring a charge of "premeditated murder." The accusation against the man nicknamed the Blade Runner stunned a nation that had seen him as a national hero who had overcome the acute challenge of being born without fibula bones; had both legs amputated below the knee as an infant; and yet became the first Paralympic sprinter to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Olympics in London last year. | Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the prosecution would bring a charge of "premeditated murder." The accusation against the man nicknamed the Blade Runner stunned a nation that had seen him as a national hero who had overcome the acute challenge of being born without fibula bones; had both legs amputated below the knee as an infant; and yet became the first Paralympic sprinter to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Olympics in London last year. |
| Grim-faced and tired looking, Mr. Pistorius entered the court as news of events at his upmarket home in Pretoria eclipsed a State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday evening and took up the front page headlines in many newspapers on Friday. “Golden Boy Loses Shine,” said one headline in The Sowetan. | Grim-faced and tired looking, Mr. Pistorius entered the court as news of events at his upmarket home in Pretoria eclipsed a State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday evening and took up the front page headlines in many newspapers on Friday. “Golden Boy Loses Shine,” said one headline in The Sowetan. |
| The courtroom in Pretoria was packed and officials said no cameras would be allowed inside. Police officials have indicated that they will oppose an expected application for bail. Wearing a gray suit, Mr. Pistorius arrived for the hearing sitting in the back a police car, shielding his face. | The courtroom in Pretoria was packed and officials said no cameras would be allowed inside. Police officials have indicated that they will oppose an expected application for bail. Wearing a gray suit, Mr. Pistorius arrived for the hearing sitting in the back a police car, shielding his face. |
| Members of his family, also weeping, were in the courtroom when he appeared. | Members of his family, also weeping, were in the courtroom when he appeared. |
| Early on Thursday morning, the police found Ms. Steenkamp dead from gunshot wounds. Before the day was out, Mr. Pistorius, 26, who ran on carbon-fiber blades that earned him his nickname, had been charged with murder. | Early on Thursday morning, the police found Ms. Steenkamp dead from gunshot wounds. Before the day was out, Mr. Pistorius, 26, who ran on carbon-fiber blades that earned him his nickname, had been charged with murder. |
| Ms. Steenkamp was a model about to make her debut on a reality television show. | Ms. Steenkamp was a model about to make her debut on a reality television show. |
| Early news reports said Mr. Pistorius, a gun enthusiast, had mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder. But police officers said that account came as a surprise to them. They also disclosed previous law enforcement complaints about domestic episodes at his home. | Early news reports said Mr. Pistorius, a gun enthusiast, had mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder. But police officers said that account came as a surprise to them. They also disclosed previous law enforcement complaints about domestic episodes at his home. |
| Mr. Pistorius won two gold medals and a silver at last September’s Paralympic Games in London. In the 2012 Olympics the month before, he reached the 400-meter semifinal and competed in the 4x400-meter relay. | Mr. Pistorius won two gold medals and a silver at last September’s Paralympic Games in London. In the 2012 Olympics the month before, he reached the 400-meter semifinal and competed in the 4x400-meter relay. |
| In the Paralympics, Mr. Pistorius won individual gold, successfully defending his 400-meter title. He had lost his 100- and 200-meter titles, but was part of the gold medal-winning 4x100-meter relay team. He came in second in the 200-meter race. | In the Paralympics, Mr. Pistorius won individual gold, successfully defending his 400-meter title. He had lost his 100- and 200-meter titles, but was part of the gold medal-winning 4x100-meter relay team. He came in second in the 200-meter race. |
Lydia Polgreen reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. Mukelwa Hlatshwayo contributed reporting from Pretoria. | Lydia Polgreen reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. Mukelwa Hlatshwayo contributed reporting from Pretoria. |