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Antoine De Ras / Redux Pictures
Oscar Pistorius known as the 'Blade Runner' appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court for allegedly killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a shooting incident.
UPDATED: 4:30 p.m. ET: The management company of “Blade Runner” Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius, who allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, has cancelled all of his future races, according to a statement released Sunday.
“I have decided that following these tragic events that we have no option but to cancel all future races that Oscar Pistorius had been contracted to compete in, to allow Oscar to concentrate on the upcoming legal proceedings and to help and support all those involved as they try to come to terms with this very difficult and distressing situation,” Pistorius' agent Peet Van Zyl said in a statement.
Pistorius had been contracted to compete in five races between March 9 and May 25 in Australia, Brazil, the United States and England.
Van Zyl said that all of Pistorius’ partners and sponsors were supportive and their contractual commitments remain intact, but “they are happy to let the legal process take its course before making any change in their position.”
Pistorius was charged on Friday with murdering Steenkamp at his home, although the athlete vehemently denied the accusation in a statement issued by his agent on Friday.
A reality television show featuring Steenkamp was aired in South Africa Saturday night, two days after she was killed.
A pre-recorded clip on the “Tropika Island of Treasure” show featured the law graduate talking about her "exit" from the series, which is filmed in the Caribbean.
As Pistorius spends his fourth day in jail, more details are emerging of what allegedly happened inside his home early that morning, NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.
"I think that the way you go out, not just your journey in life but the way that you go out and you make your exit is so important," she said in the clip – words which have a new meaning in light of her death, in the early hours of Thursday.
Speaking directly to the camera, she said: "I'm gonna miss you all so much. And I love you very, very much."
As Pistorius remained in a Pretoria police station awaiting his next bail hearing on Tuesday, media reports carried more lurid details about the events surrounding Steenkamp’s death.
South African newspaper The Sunday Tribune reported claims by an un-named female friend of Pistorius that he called her frantically asking for help after the shooting, while UK newspaper The People published an interview with the athlete’s friend, Justin Divaris.
Divaris told the newspaper Pistorius had also called him in a panic – even before he had called police.
The newspaper said Divaris saw a hysterical Pistorius being detained by cops at the house. “He was totally incoherent and just kept saying, ‘My baba, I’ve killed my baba. God take me away’,” he was quoted as saying.
A pastor who visited Pistorius at the police station on Sunday said he was still distraught.
"I'm gonna miss you all so much! And I love you very, very much," Reeva Steenkamp, slain girlfriend of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, said in a show that aired after she was found shot to death. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.
"The Holy Spirit gave me an order that this is now the chance to go pray with Oscar," pastor AJ Wilson told Reuters outside the police station.
"The (police) colonel told him that I have come to pray with him. He just cried and we all cried together."
Pistorius’ uncle, Arnold, on Saturday said the Paralympian was “numb with shock, as well as grief”.
There was anger in South African at the decision by broadcaster SABC to air the reality show, Reuters reported – particularly as Steenkamp will not be buried until Tuesday.
"It was very insensitive to put it on air before she was even buried," said 30-year-old insurance consultant Montle Ndlovu, according to Reuters. "It's such a sad story. She was young and pretty and had her whole life in front of her."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related:
Prosecutor: 'Blade Runner' Pistorius committed 'premeditated' murder of girlfriend
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Okay, people, I have read many of the comments. So, based on my personal experience, some people who have been diagnosed as "bipolar" can and do act like 2 different people. I met a young female who acted like a perfect angel. Beautiful, loving, and careing. 2 weeks later, without any reason, she started acting like the "devil's daughter" IN THE FLESH! Living here in CA for 50 odd years, I have NEVER met anyone like her. The fact remains in the case above, what excuse does Mr. Pistorius have to present in his defense? I'd say he'll plead insanity.
What did she do to him to provoke such a response? This man made a poor choice for a girlfriend.
Everybody wants to blame the shooter. What about her poor listening skills?
What a sick man you are! Anyone who will make excuses for a killer, has some serious mental issues!
@Art, you seem like a lunatic psychopath - a regular Jeffrey Dahmer type. Weirdo!
Amanda, If you'd just listen, things would be fine. It's your choice, your in control. So i'm like terrible? Ok
AllPeopleRights, I'm just stating the obvious,no excuses just probability. Sometimes you got to clean house.
Young successful people, war of egoes.
The police were at his home two hours before her death to break up a fight they were having. Normal people do not kill their girlfriend. It was probably an accident done in a moment of weakness. the GUN is used by people they say have some kind of mental illness, You just never know what lurks in the minds of people. There was a bloody cricket bat found at the house, she had a fractured skull and four gunshot wounds. These were not my words I cut an paste some other peoples lines but it says to me he did it.
I just knew that someone had to play the "children" card! If it wasn't for that damn gun walking to the bathroom door and going off "accidentally", well the "children" would have a place to go and get freebies!
This world is full of stupid people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Silly people; it is great to let the whole world know and send their thoughts on the matter to GOD along side her soul ;)
As for him it would be best for our society that he be keep somewhere and retrained on proper conduct in dealing with anger in a society of equals. until experts are willing to back his safe release back into society!
Those legs won't help him much in prison. They will slip on the shower floor. Don't drop da soap bro.
She was shot through the bathroom door. She tried to find refuge in the bathroom--he killed her in cold blood. Bloody cricket bat, too??? A little 'overkill'-like Jodi Arias???? Steriods??? Yet, ANOTHER, narcissistic, misogynist, egotistical psycho/sociopath?????? Maybe all of them???? Yeah--can't compete in any races if you're locked up in jail/prison or even have a GPS bracelet on (IF judge gives him bond and he comes up with it--which I hope not)!
It was probably the right thing to do at this time.
I'm gonna change my NewsVine name to Bloody Cricket Bat.
WTF that means, I do not know.
All in favor of the name change, say "aye".
You really don't know that a "bloody cricket bat" is a cricket bat with blood on it, or you've just never heard of the world famous game of cricket that's played with a big, heavy wooden bat?
there's a game called cricket? What kinda stupid name is THAT? No wiat... don't answer.
I'm going to answer anyway. There are cricket riots. There are cricket cheating scandals. People kill other people over cricket and often with cricket bats. Other than that, nobody knows much about cricket except cricket players. And even them I'm not too sure about because the game of cricket makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. However cricket uniforms are very smart.
ula_ashore, thank you for your added info on cricket.
Considering the po po were called in earlier for a domestic, I'm going with "he's gulity" -snapped & shot her. Poor girl. :(
The only running he is going to do is from Bubba.
I laughed out loud, and aksed "WHY WILL HE BE RUNNING FROM BUDDHA ????"
But then, I re-read your post.
So, you're wishing for a little Deliverance Squealing Action in the prison?
Du-oh! Ya' think?
The only place he's gonna be runnin' is around the shower room and jail cell trying to rebuff all the amorous advances he'll most certainly attract and he ain't fast enough to dodge them all.
Before killing her, he should have thought this through. Eventually, he's gonna be somebody's bioch.
Even if found innocent this guys career is over. End of story. Do not pass go do not collect $200.
And most of us turn off the lights when we go to bed----why is the above story news at all, he shot and killed someone, so let us move on, why does anyone care at all about this killer? Why?--Is this yet another gun protection camouflage?
List his sponsors! We need to know who not to support!
"Cancels races" ? I think that rates about a 9.8 on the Duhmeter.
jm
The only sponsor still supporting Pistorius is the NRA!!!
After reading the remarks here I really hope that most of you are never involved in a situation that should be thoroughly investigated and yet others stand around and, at best, speculating about what may or may not have happened and the only information that they are getting is, from of all sources, the media.Shame on you guys.
Let the justice system take care of him and then you can take him out and destroy what's left...that is the plan right? Whether he's innocent or found guilty...well, isn't it.
What I'm seeing more and more is this attitude of first lets hang'em then we'll give'em a fair trial.
Damn it's great to be an American!!!...just a little past disgusting...
BTW, pay attention to what's being given to you as "facts", and check out the stats as well. Interesting...
some things are so obvious, there is no room for speculation.
Don't forget, our "Justice" system found O.J. Simpson Not Guilty!!!
...just sayin
I have a question.... They didn't live together and it was V-Day. Is there a remote possibility that she wanted to surprise him with a romantic night/morning and she came into the house, let herself in, went to the bathroom to change into the negligee and Oscar woke up and thought an intruder was in the bathroom and went off shooting without realizing who was in there?
But then you have to consider the fact that the police were called because of a fight earlier. So, surprise, she was already there!
Nice try to make excuses for him, but even if an intruder was in the bathroom, he then had time to get out of the house and call the police. There was no reason for him to murder anyone - even an intruder!
she was there already. They had been arguing, disturbing the neighbors who called the police. I do not understand why she did not take that opportunity to run out....unless he had already bashed her on the head with that "bloody" bat and she was semi-comatose. He killed her 2 hours later, when everyone heard the four shots. It is really a no brainer if you read all the reports made available by the press.
Yeah, that's just how it happened!!! I like the way you think!!
I'm surpprised with all the news reports we have not got a detailed explanation other than his girlfreind was shot. What lead up to the event?
jealous boyfriend, behavior issues, extremely possessive and controlling...need I go on for you ? these guys easily crack. They have a very short fuse. They cannot be denied anything and guns are there, next to the bed, ready to be used. This guy was used to killing innocent animals as a hunter. There is a fine line between killing a beautiful deer or any wild animal and killing a human....they are both sentient, beautiful and alive. Hunters take these lives by instinct. Some hunters keep on killing in society; some are caught by authorities, some are not.
The elements of the relationship led to the event as well as maybe alcohol, steroids, drugs of many kinds. Who kows?
My guess is she grew as a person, and his ego had no room for her ego. It stopped going his way.....
I call him "pistachio" for nut. No respect there.