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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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The only important legal question is Mr. Pistorious' mens rea, or state of mind when he pulled the trigger, inasmuch as there are apparently no other contenders for shooter. His possible conviction thus ranges from the S/A equivalent of "Negligent Homicide" to "Murder 1," and whatever else is in between (e.g., "Heat of Passion Murder," which lacks the premeditation feature of First Degree Murder with no reflection). The law punishes not just the actus reus, but also the mental state present during same.
Very Sad what humans do to each other!~ If found guilty, he needs to be away for a very long time!!.
The pure stupidity of some people, that when a famous person is involved in a crime with so much evidence against them that some people stand behind the famous person/murderer until they are blue in the face. I don't care what 12 people in court said either. News Flash- OJ did it. Casey Anthony did it. This sorry POS did it. Just sad that there are so many stupid people in the world who do crimes like this and then 12 other stupid people are grouped together to decide some justice or to decide if all the overwhelming evidence was just STUPID. Not saying we should convict anyone without a fair trial but again we have to much stupid doing stupid and then stupid deciding for stupid especially when they are famous.
I think there's a lot more to the story then we've heard.
Did this guy think he was shooting at the boogie man when he shot through that bathroom door? I feel sad for her family..
For what he did to that defenseless woman, they should cut his arms off, take away the fake legs, and give him life without no chance of parole.
He was a coward, period. The woman dumped him, and he couldn't take it..
They cancelled his races---they need to cancel Oscar.
My theory is that the couple got into a huge fight - she ran upstairs to lock herself in the bathroom, he starts banging on the door screaming at her to open it - she tells him to piss off and in his usual uncontrolled rage, he grabs his gun and starts shooting at the door to "show her" he means business and unfortunately kills her. I don't think he technically meant to kill her though, but his temper is what set this all in motion. I think manslaughter will be the charge.
Someone said 'remember Lance Armstrong'. Well, it does bring up years of lies to the World and was it seven titles that he probably did not earn and in the long-run deny others their opportunity for a title that he finally admitted ... ultimately destroying others dreams. Armstrong is a disgrace! ......... Well, Pistorius' Is Not Even Close to Armstrong's mentality, and I am confident that Pistorius' is innocent of planning his girlfriend's death ... it was an accident in a known violent community and country. I have heard from those who live in Africa including a missonary pastor that you have to have high/thick security walls around your home and if a part of is destroyed by accident or a perpetrator trying to ram your wall to get in, you need to fix it immediately or your home will be invaded and your either assaulted, murdered while they steal what you have with no regard to anyone in your home. You put yourself at risk in those type of communities. The police force is not very good or cannot be relied on at times due to corruption in some communities. Also, anything you hear or observe of your neighbor does mean you Know what is happening regardless of the police there that may be loud ... I suppose many of the naysayers never Scream at someone. Everyone has their own perception to being irrational and accusatory and off base. There are a lot of theories out there from gangland slaying or I will get her and shoot. I hear my neighbors a lot and it does not mean they are violent, they just may have a family squabble. Yes, they can get out of hand. Remember, Pistorius' is still a disabled young man, so is an easy victum and target, so he may have more fear than any of us normally would have in his situation. Something must have been out of the ordinary of what he expected that he would sense it was not his girlfriend and thought it was an intruder. I cannot immagine how devistated he was when it happened to this day and will have to live with it all the days of his life, and I pray he does not despair but gains the strength to move on like he did dealing with his disability and to get an amputation ... It is so sad. I do not believe he is faking his grief and the sense of loss for her family, friends and himself ... how do you find someone that could even come close to the one you love. I PRAY FOR YOU ALL. I appears to me that the police/prosecuter are trying to railroad Pistorius' ... we see it all the time. I pray God's comfort in their grief and the strength and peace and hold to the wonderful memories that they had with her albeit so short that only He can provide. Everyone grieves differently and I hope Pistorius' finds his way to move forward, like many have dealing with tragedy in the past, in his life and do not begrudge him for doing so, like some of you and the media will do. Grief and sadness does not need to be eternally evident in her parents and his life. I had a son drown at 15, 25 years ago and it has affected me to the point of my not moving forward as much as I should have ... you can always try to blame someone but tragedy comes in all situations. Grace and Forgiveness to those that need it. Everyone has a purpose in life and death, and one day we will see it. Like many out there, too, I pray that the truth of your INNOCENCE comes out.
Lance Armstrong didn't kill anybody.No comparison,Oscar murdered his girlfriend, and you make it out that Lance is worse.Oscar needs to rot in jail the rest of his life.
Africa is not 'a community'!!!!!!! It's an entire friggin' continent you moron!
He was a hero, now he is just a murderer. A beautiful, intelliegent womans life cut short. My condolences to her family and friends.
Having family and friends in South Africa and having lived there myself, I truly believe it was an accident. The crime rate is so high and so much of it goes unreported or unattended by police. It's every man for himself out there because the government and public safety do not protect the people. Almost everyone I know that lives there (rich and poor) have either had their house broken into, or been attacked (and my that I mean stabbed). Most houses are surrounding by some sort of protection (electrical fences). I remember being scared to just take a run down a main road in fear of being attacked. I know several people that have had people break into their house and attack them and the police do nothing. Many a time, it's up to you to handle your attacker. This man is also at a slight disadvantage because of his handicap--and the intruders are fearless and clever. I can't even imagine the fear I would feel if I were home alone, handicapped--fearing the noise from the possible intruder I heard the night before could this time really be after me. Who knows if he had been attacked before or his house broken in to as a child. I would be terrified if I were him. Not saying that he is right for shooting, but until you understand the culture and the fear surrounding many people who live there--you cannot blame it entirely on him. Their government is responsible for this.
We all love Oscar. Oscar Meyer hot dogs.
Most of us despise Oscar P.
Enjoy life in the pen you filthy dude.
I knew a girl who died like this. Her name was Lindsey. I don't know what she could have said but I do know her boyfriend was trying to scare her. This sounds like the same case. Both dudes shot threw the door and both were very sorry for it. I dont know yet but im sure we will find out the truth five times over and over and over again.
I find it odd that he was carrying her body down the stairs trying to revive her?..I'm very curious to see how this story unfolds. Where I am from in the US we have had different men throughout the history of our smallish community kill their wives while cleaning a gun or in mistaken identity or even in a hunting accident..but 4 shots?..that seems very unlikely
Yes, I believe OJ did it and Casey Anthony did it, and Armstrong is a big lier and abuser of his teammates and the public. Does that mean that Robert Wagner caused Natalie Wood to drown while on his boat with his buddy, Christopher Walken? Or George Zimmerman, a minority, currently being railroaded by the black community with Jesse Jackson's help, who has his own foul indescretions along with his family, and the media's own misinformation about Zimmerman defending himself from, a minority, Martin's own indescretions that is coming to light ... Martin is not as innocent has folks thought, sad he died though. Private and pubic figures and could go on/on. So, that means Pistorius' is guilty? NO. Innocent untill proven guilty, and I vote INNOCENT, and accident. He lives in a country and community of pure fear and violence (killing families, towns, tourists, etc) by many sources including people, tribes and some police/government ... he is being railroaded just to appease someone who wants a name for themselves. The media cannot even tell the truth about Obama and his cohorts, so what makes you think otherwise. Pistorius', there are a lot of people who support you and her family/friends and respect your grief ...
dirtbag should be crying,although it's probably for himself and not the girl and her family
hope he fries!
3am in the morning..GF not there..lights off..already paranoid..you sleep with a gun by your bed..you're awoken by some one in your room..lights off and a shadowy figure enters your bedroom ..your first instinct is to grab that gun and fire at the head.Can you fire a 9mm weapon 4 times that fast without realizing you're shooting your gf?
it must have been sumthin huge that sent him off the "rational" reservation and kill an incredibly hot girl friend just off the olympics and in his prime. my only guess is the certainty that she would have, if not already, been flooded w/attention from guys everywhere the more popular she became. just a guess.
Murderer. Rot in hell.
This article has a bad case of overstating the obvious.
Shame on you people that are saying that Oscar is a controlling psycho, you were not there ! You can't just point your finger at someone just because you want it to be that way. Either way, we know nothing and we have no right to "speculate" over such matters because this will tarnish the reputation of someone ! You all know what speculation leads to. RIP Reeva and good luck Oscar !
Paranoia + guns + surprise visit + possible domestic situation = death. This guy was a ticking timebomb waiting to go off and he did, with deadly consequences.
it is so thoughtful his agent wants to cancel the rest of his track schedule maybe he thinks this brutal murder might affect his performance and his ability to live his life unlike the life he took.
who the fuc# are these supportive sponsors of a murderer we need to boycott there products.tiger has some meaningless affairs and his sponsors drop him like a bad habit and Pistorius embrace him there is something so wrong here.
Well, yes, he does need to stay in South Africa and help with his legal defense...but I bet the real reason for canceling his participation in races abroad is that the government pulled his passport. Makes it hard to travel, no?