Sifting through the Pistorius speculation

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 20 Februari 2013 | 14.41

Oscar Pistorius' attorney says the famed athlete and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp were "deeply in love" on the first days of his bail hearing. Deborah Gembara reports.

  • Oscar Pistorius's girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp shot dead
  • Olympic sprinter charged with her murder
  • Pistorius awaiting to hear if he will get bail
  • Lurid speculation on what really happened

OSCAR Pistorius will find out later tonight if he will be granted bail after he was charged with murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.

Last night prosecutors outlined their case against the Olympic sprinter and Pistorius submitted an affidavit, giving his version of events the night Steenkamp, 29, died.

The case - involving the inspirational double-amputee athlete and his high-profile, model girlfriend - has attracted global attention and prompted lurid speculation on exactly what went on that night in the luxury villa in one of South Africa's most prestigious gated communities.

Here we sort the facts from the unfounded allegations.

What we know

Reeva Steenkamp, a magazine pin-up and fledgling TV star, was shot, apparently in the bathroom of Pistorius's home in the early hours of February 14.

The toilet where Reeva Steenkamp was allegedly shot. Picture: Getty

There were four shots fired through the room's locked door.  Steenkamp was hit and died of her wounds.

A 9mm pistol was seized by police at the scene.

Pistorius, 26, was charged with murder on Friday, February 15 and made his first court appearance later that day, where the hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.

He told his relatives that he thought it was an intruder in his bathroom and that he shot through the door out of fear.

Police allege that there was no intruder and that Pistorius deliberately shot Steenkamp.

What the police say

A police officer holds a gun that was allegedly used in the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp, the girlfriend of Olympian athlete Oscar Pistorius, at the Boschkop police station east of Pretoria. Picture: AP

In their affadvit at the bail hearing the police said: "The door to the toilet was broken open from the outside - the only reasonable inference being that it was locked and could not be opened.

"(Pistorius) gained access to the toilet and carried the deceased downstairs where he walked into security guards. The main door of the house was not locked.

"(Pistorius) told his sister that he thought it was a burglar. We argue that this was part of the pre-planning to use as a defence.

"Why would a burglar lock himself into a toilet? There may have been an argument earlier between (Pistorius) and the deceased. ..."

The speculation and untested allegations

Within hours of the killing, speculation -  some wild, most of it attributed only to unnamed police close to the case - as to what happened inside the house was being reported on news websites around the world.

Athlete Oscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa, at his bail hearing in the Reeva Steenkamp murder case. Picture: AP

Police said they had been called to incidents at the Pistorius's home in the past to deal with "domestic incidents".

Reports suggested Pistorius allegedly called friends saying he had "shot my baba", before police were called.

Then came sensational reports of a bloodied cricket bat being found at the scene, along with steroids. The sources were "unnamed police officers" close to the case.

There was even suggestion Steenkamp's skull had been crushed.

The mention of steroids prompted theories about "roid rage" and that the paralympian had killed Steenkamp in a jealous fury.

Police seized Steenkamp's iPad and mobile phones from the murder scene and said they were investigating text messages for a possible motive.

The home of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius in a gated housing complex in Pretoria, South Africa.

Steenkamp's "close friendship" with Springbok rugby union star Francois Hougaard came under the spotlight after Nelson Mandela's private secretary posted this message: "Have you heard ­rumours about a rugby player alleged to be involved somehow? We all have."

Another police source told South African media that investigators had retrieved evidence of sexual activity from Pistorius's bedroom. "They are being analysed for DNA to determine who they belong to and whether they originate from the night of the killing."

Questions of character

Pistorius's apparent fascination with guns was discussed. A New York Times interview was widely quoted where Pistorius spoke of his love of weapons.

An ex-girlfriend's mother said he was "reckless with guns" and she was glad her daughter was no longer with him.

The athlete's past relationships - usually with high-profile models - came under scrutiny after an interview ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor gave in November was widely quoted. In it she said Pistorius "was not who people thought he was" and described him as a womaniser.

Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius with girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he is accused of shooting dead at his home. Picture: AFP .

It remains to be seen if any of these claims will be tested in court.


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