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| Oscar Pistorius denies Reeva Steenkamp South Africa murder | Oscar Pistorius denies Reeva Steenkamp South Africa murder |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South African Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has strongly rejected a charge that he murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. | South African Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has strongly rejected a charge that he murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. |
| Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, was shot dead at Mr Pistorius's home near Pretoria on Thursday. | Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, was shot dead at Mr Pistorius's home near Pretoria on Thursday. |
| Appearing in court in Pretoria, Mr Pistorius wept as prosecutors vowed to pursue a charge of premeditated murder. | Appearing in court in Pretoria, Mr Pistorius wept as prosecutors vowed to pursue a charge of premeditated murder. |
| An application for bail was postponed until next Tuesday and the athlete will remain in police custody. | An application for bail was postponed until next Tuesday and the athlete will remain in police custody. |
| Dubbed "blade runner", he made history last summer by becoming the first double-amputee track athlete to run in an Olympic Games. | Dubbed "blade runner", he made history last summer by becoming the first double-amputee track athlete to run in an Olympic Games. |
| "The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms", said a statement released by Mr Pistorius's family and management company after the court hearing. | "The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms", said a statement released by Mr Pistorius's family and management company after the court hearing. |
| Irate security guards pushed against the court door as a crowd surged outside. There was simply no more room left. Oscar Pistorius's family squeezed their way in, looking horrified at the line-up of the world's media in front of them. | Irate security guards pushed against the court door as a crowd surged outside. There was simply no more room left. Oscar Pistorius's family squeezed their way in, looking horrified at the line-up of the world's media in front of them. |
| Then, a sudden hush as the magistrate, Desmond Nair, entered the court. He was not feeling patient: "I want to hear a pin drop in this court." | Then, a sudden hush as the magistrate, Desmond Nair, entered the court. He was not feeling patient: "I want to hear a pin drop in this court." |
| As Oscar Pistorius was brought in, there was a low-level murmur among the crowd. He cut a dashing but broken figure. His whole body twitched. I was standing so close to him I could see his jawbone slowly grinding. | As Oscar Pistorius was brought in, there was a low-level murmur among the crowd. He cut a dashing but broken figure. His whole body twitched. I was standing so close to him I could see his jawbone slowly grinding. |
| As the prosecutor told the court he was going for premeditated murder, Pistorius sobbed into his hands. The magistrate asked for him to be seated. His brother, sitting behind him, put a hand on his shoulder. | As the prosecutor told the court he was going for premeditated murder, Pistorius sobbed into his hands. The magistrate asked for him to be seated. His brother, sitting behind him, put a hand on his shoulder. |
| Throughout the 45-minute session the accused remained silent. This was just the start of what could be a long road ahead. | Throughout the 45-minute session the accused remained silent. This was just the start of what could be a long road ahead. |
| "Our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family - regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy," it said. | "Our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family - regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy," it said. |
| They were the first words released on behalf of the 26-year-old athlete since Ms Steenkamp was found fatally wounded at his home in the gated Silver Woods development outside the South African capital. | They were the first words released on behalf of the 26-year-old athlete since Ms Steenkamp was found fatally wounded at his home in the gated Silver Woods development outside the South African capital. |
| But they gave no explanation of what had happened. | But they gave no explanation of what had happened. |
| 'Traumatised' | 'Traumatised' |
| Hours earlier, Mr Pistorius sobbed audibly during his initial appearance at Pretoria Magistrates Court. | Hours earlier, Mr Pistorius sobbed audibly during his initial appearance at Pretoria Magistrates Court. |
| Dozens of reporters witnessed the hearing, where chief magistrate Desmond Nair was presiding. | Dozens of reporters witnessed the hearing, where chief magistrate Desmond Nair was presiding. |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding, who was there, said the defendant cut a lonely figure in a crowded court, with his hands clenched and his neck muscles twitching, before he held his head forward, breathing heavily through tears. | |
| When Prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued for the graver charge of "premeditated murder", Mr Pistorius slumped forward at the mention of the words. | |
| If convicted of premeditated murder, the athlete will face a life term in prison. But his defence is seeking a lesser charge, possibly culpable homicide, which is defined in South African law as unlawful, negligent killing. | |
| Media access was discussed at the 40-minute session and the magistrate ruled that there should be no live recording of the bail hearings. | Media access was discussed at the 40-minute session and the magistrate ruled that there should be no live recording of the bail hearings. |
| Mr Pistorius's team had argued against such coverage and cited his "extremely traumatised state of mind". | Mr Pistorius's team had argued against such coverage and cited his "extremely traumatised state of mind". |
| Both prosecution and defence agreed Mr Pistorius could remain in custody at a police station and not in prison. | Both prosecution and defence agreed Mr Pistorius could remain in custody at a police station and not in prison. |
| Members of Mr Pistorius's family, including sister Aimee, brother Carl and father Henke, were in the courtroom. | Members of Mr Pistorius's family, including sister Aimee, brother Carl and father Henke, were in the courtroom. |
| His brother and father, sitting behind the athlete, reached forward to touch his shoulder during the proceedings. | |
| Mr Pistorius had earlier arrived at court in the back of a police vehicle, hiding his face with a jacket and notebook. | Mr Pistorius had earlier arrived at court in the back of a police vehicle, hiding his face with a jacket and notebook. |
| Forensic scientists are expected to continue examining the house in the Silver Lakes area on the outskirts of South Africa's administrative capital where Ms Steenkamp, 29, died. | Forensic scientists are expected to continue examining the house in the Silver Lakes area on the outskirts of South Africa's administrative capital where Ms Steenkamp, 29, died. |
| Correspondents say the athlete's arrest has stunned the country where he is considered a national hero. | Correspondents say the athlete's arrest has stunned the country where he is considered a national hero. |
| He is known as "blade runner" because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in. He was born without a fibula in both legs and had his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday. | He is known as "blade runner" because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in. He was born without a fibula in both legs and had his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday. |
| Police were called to his home in the early hours of Thursday morning. | Police were called to his home in the early hours of Thursday morning. |
| They found paramedics treating a 29-year-old woman with four gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. She died at the scene, and officers recovered a 9mm pistol. | They found paramedics treating a 29-year-old woman with four gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. She died at the scene, and officers recovered a 9mm pistol. |
| A post-mortem examination was being carried out on Friday but the results will not be made public, police said. | A post-mortem examination was being carried out on Friday but the results will not be made public, police said. |
| 'Special memories' | 'Special memories' |
| Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp had reportedly been dating since November. | Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp had reportedly been dating since November. |
| The model was already well known in South Africa but was seen as being on the verge of a new career, with her appearance in a pre-recorded reality TV show set to start on Saturday. | The model was already well known in South Africa but was seen as being on the verge of a new career, with her appearance in a pre-recorded reality TV show set to start on Saturday. |
| The producers of Tropika Island of Treasure said they were going ahead with the programme, filmed in Jamaica, after "much deliberation". | The producers of Tropika Island of Treasure said they were going ahead with the programme, filmed in Jamaica, after "much deliberation". |
| "Every episode that she is in, every frame that she so ably dominates - shines with her light and her laughter echoes in every conversation, and we want to share these special memories with the rest of South Africa." the programme said. | "Every episode that she is in, every frame that she so ably dominates - shines with her light and her laughter echoes in every conversation, and we want to share these special memories with the rest of South Africa." the programme said. |
| Meanwhile, world athletics figures spoke of their shock at what had happened. | Meanwhile, world athletics figures spoke of their shock at what had happened. |
| His training partner, UK 400m runner Martyn Rooney, released a statement saying his "thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those involved". | |
| "I've not heard what he has to say. I wouldn't want to be in his situation, but I hope that, at the end of it all, justice will prevail," said Jamaica's Olympic women's 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. | "I've not heard what he has to say. I wouldn't want to be in his situation, but I hope that, at the end of it all, justice will prevail," said Jamaica's Olympic women's 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. |
| Mr Pistorius dominated in his category at successive Paralympic Games, but in 2008 he won a legal battle over his blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to compete in able-bodied competitions. | Mr Pistorius dominated in his category at successive Paralympic Games, but in 2008 he won a legal battle over his blades - which critics said gave him an unfair advantage - with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for the right to compete in able-bodied competitions. |
| 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. | 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. |
| South Africa has one of the highest rates of crime in the world and many residents keep weapons to protect themselves against intruders. | South Africa has one of the highest rates of crime in the world and many residents keep weapons to protect themselves against intruders. |
| But gun ownership is strictly regulated and it is not easy to obtain a licence. | But gun ownership is strictly regulated and it is not easy to obtain a licence. |