People were taken aback by the latest news headline about Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee from South Africa who competes in the Paralympics. It was reported today, February 14 that he has been charged with shooting his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp inside his residence in Pretoria.
The charge
Pretorian police have opened a case against Oscar Pistorius. He is charged with killing his girlfriend by shooting her. According to the police they were the only two people inside Pistorius’ luxury home in a well-guarded complex that is enclosed by electronic fence and a wall three meters high. A 9mm pistol was recovered from the home.
Police said they are interviewing neighbors who are recalling what they have heard from the house earlier and when the shooting was taking place. Police also mentioned that there had been some other related domestic incidents from the same house that have been reported several times.
In police custody
Oscar Pistorius has been brought to the police station on Thursday for standard medical examination that is required for a murder charge. He is due to appear in court on Friday, February 15. Some people who know Pistorius are shocked by the news. They cannot believe that a modest and quiet man could be accused of murder. However, Pistorius already had dealings with the law. In 2009 he was arrested, charged with assault by a woman and spent a night in jail for slamming a door on her. Charges were dropped later.
High-crime area
While people like Pistorius could afford to pay security guards and install electric fences, Pretoria and South Africa in general is a high-crime area. People usually have baseball bats and other weapons in their homes to defend themselves in case of home break-ins.
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