New reports claimed today that Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius “carried his dying girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp downstairs and tried to resuscitate her as he desperately attempted to save her life”.
Oscar Pistorius, 26, allegedly cradled Reeva Steenkamp, who he allegedly shot four times, as he tried to stop her dying, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the 29-year-old.
It was reported that Reeva Steenkamp was still breathing when paramedics and security guards rushed to the house.
But paramedics were unable to revive the model and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sources told Beeld, the Afrikaans language newspaper, that security guards heard the shots and rushed to the house, where they saw Oscar Pistorius running down the stairs with the law graduate in his arms.
Oscar Pistorius is said to be on suicide watch due to fears the blade runner might take his own life over charges for the “pre-planned” murder of Reeva Steenkamp, it emerged last night.
The athlete, who wept in the dock yesterday after being charged with shooting dead law graduate Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day, is being held at Brooklyn Police Station prison in Pretoria.
A source said: “Oscar is innocent but he feels as though he has descended into hell. He is absolutely devastated and struggling to deal with his emotions.”
The source told The Sun: “He’s been given a cell to himself at the police station but there are criminals in cells around him and he doesn’t belong there. There are police concerns over his mental state.”
At his hearing earlier yesterday Oscar Pistorius remained silent during the 40 minute hearing but his family and management issued a joint statement insisting: “The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest possible terms.”
It was reported yesterday that Reeva Steenkamp had been hit four times by bullets fired through the door of a bathroom at the luxury complex on the outskirts of Pretoria where Pistorius, a keen marksman, kept a pistol and machine gun.
Reeva Steenkamp, who had only been going out with Oscar Pistorius since November, is said to have been hit in the head, chest, pelvis and hand.
Beeld newspaper said: “The security guards found Pistorius by Steenkamp’s body in the bathroom,” and quoted a neighbour as saying: “The door had bullet holes right through it.”
A 9mm pistol said to have been owned by Oscar Pistorius was seen in a plastic exhibits bag being carried by police officers investigating the killing which has shocked the world.
There were gasps from some of the 100 people crowded into Courtroom C of the Magistrates Court as Oscar Pistorius stood with head bowed in front of Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair to the hear the murder charge read out, then started weeping, covering his face with his hands.
“Take it easy,” Desmond Nair told him.
“Come take a seat.”
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the Pretoria court they would argue the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp, a former TV presenter, in the early hours of Thursday was premeditated.
They will tell the court that neighbors heard screaming and shouting from the mansion on the high security Silver Lakes Estate – there had been no robberies there for the past five years – followed by a shot.
Mention of the word “pre-meditated” caused Oscar Pistorius to slump forward and he could be seen to be breathing heavily through his hands.
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who in London last year became the first athlete to compete at both an Olympic and Paralympic Games, are said to be preparing to argue the shooting was a tragic accident.
If found guilty of premeditated murder, Oscar Pistorius faces an automatic life sentence. He would not be eligible to be considered for parole until he is aged 51.
Police have dismissed initial claims that Oscar Pistorius had mistakenly shot his girlfriend believing she was an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius, who was dressed in a grey suit and blue tie, had been expected to apply for bail, but this has been postponed until Tuesday after the defence and prosecution agreed to allow more time for this to be heard.
He will be held in custody at Brooklyn Prison in Pretoria, next door to the firearms registration centre, until then.
Oscar Pistorius said nothing during the 40-minute hearing. His father, Henke, sister Aimee and brother, Carl, sat directly behind him in the packed court-room, occasionally leaning forward to give him a supportive pat on the shoulder.
As the athlete began to weep, Carl Pistorius lent forward and laid a hand on his brother, squeezing him slightly.
His family later issued a staunch denial of the allegation.
They said: “Firstly, and most importantly, all our thoughts today must be with the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp.
“Oscar Pistorius has made history as an Olympic and Paralympic sportsman and has been an inspiration to others the world over.
“He has made it very clear that he would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva.
“He would also like to express his thanks through us for all the messages of support he has received – but as stated our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family, regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.”
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