Oscar Pistorius Shooting: First Picture Of Olympian Since Death Of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

First Picture Of Olympian Oscar Pistorius Since Death Of Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
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This is the first picture of Olympian Oscar Pistorius since the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Dressed in a grey hooded sweatshirt, the 26-year-old is seen being escorted out of his compound in Pretoria.

Pistorius was arrested on suspicion of murder after the shooting in the early hours of Thursday morning.

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Oscar Pistorius (in a grey hooded-top) leaves his Pretoria compound on Thursday morning

Paramedics were called between 4 - 5am after the woman was shot twice in the head and arm.

Police have recovered a 9mm pistol from the scene.

According to initial reports in local media, model Steenkamp, 30, may have been mistaken for a burglar at the property in the Silver Lakes Golf Estate in Pretoria.

But police said the shooting early today was being treated as a murder investigation and said there had been previous incidents at the address described as "allegations of a domestic nature".

Brigadier Denise Beukes also said police were "very surprised" by the burglar suggestion, telling reporters near the scene: "These allegations did not come from us."

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Pistorius and Steenkamp at a recent event

Brigadier Beukes said Pistorius will be appearing in court this afternoon and bringing a formal bail application.

Confirming there had been previous "incidents" at the athlete's home, she said: "I can't confirm that it's related to the person that's arrested but I can confirm there has previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorius."

She said these were "allegations of a domestic nature".

She said there was no signs of forced entry at the address.

And asked about speculation the victim may have been mistaken for a burglar, she said: "The South African Police Service were just as surprised this morning to hear over the radio that allegations had been made that the deceased had been perceived to be a burglar.

"We were very surprised and those allegations did not come from us."

The officer said Pistorius was co-operating with police.

The sprinter was extremely conscious about his safety whilst in his native South Africa and reportedly kept a pistol by his bed and a machine gun by his window. According to official figures, 13 in 100 people own a gun in South Africa.