Oscar Pistorius, the 26-year-old South African Paralympic athlete also known as Blade Runner, was arrested for allegedly having fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his home in Pretoria, South Africa. While Oscar Pistorius is being questioned by the police and the case is still under investigation, local media report that the shooting might have been an accident when Oscar Pistorius mistook his girlfriend for a burglar.
On Feb. 14, 2013, the German newspaper Sueddeutsche reports that South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and that many South African people have guns in their houses in order to protect themselves.
According to the South African newspaper Beeld, paramedics were called to Oscar Pistorius’ home around 4 a.m. on Thursday morning. Paramedics found Oscar Pistorius’ 30-year-old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, shot in the arm and the head. She died at the scene.
According to a Telegraph news report early Thursday morning, "A close family friend confirmed to South Africa’s City Press newspaper that it was Miss Steenkamp who died early this morning in Pistorius’s luxury Pretoria home, saying the family was 'devastated'. ... She described herself as an 'SA Model, Cover Girl, Tropika Island of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Child of God'."
When police arrived at Oscar Pistorius’ home, a 9 mm pistol was recovered. The body of Reeva Steenkamp was transported from the home in a hearse around 8:30 a.m. Beeld reports that Oscar Pistorius remained at the scene and that he was questioned by the police. Oscar Pistorius is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Oscar Pistorius is regarded as one of South Africa’s national icons and the news that he might have killed his girlfriend is a shock that is going around the world.
Oscar Pistorius, whose full name is Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, is an internationally well-known South African sprint runner and called “'Blade Runner” in many countries.
After being born on Nov. 22, 1986, with fibular hemimelia, which is the congenital absence of the fibula in both legs, Oscar Pistorius’ legs were amputated halfway between his knees and ankles when he was 11 months old.
Last year, Oscar Pistorius ran with the aid of prosthetic limbs during the London Olympics. He is the first Paralympian to compete in the able bodied Olympics. Even though he did not win a medal, Oscar Pistorius’ participation in the Olympics was an internationally celebrated triumph over adversity and the celebration of the perseverance of being able to overcome almost impossible challenges.
In regard to Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s newspaper Beeld writes on Thursday that “He is reported to be shocked.” If the shooting of his girlfriend was an accident, one can only hope that Oscar Pistorius will have as much emotional strength and endurance as he has physical strength.
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