Previous domestic incidents at Pistorius home: Pretoria police
The lawyer for Oscar Pistorius has said the athlete is "doing fine" after he was charged with murder in South Africa.
The Olympian and Paralympian's 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steencamp was shot dead at his house in Pretoria.
Police there have played down reports he may have mistaken her for an intruder. They also said there had been previous domestic incidents at his address.
A court hearing has been delayed until 7am Irish time tomorrow.
Pistorius, 26, was a 400 metres gold medallist at the London 2012 Paralympics and the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Denise Beukes said at a press conference: “A 26-year-old man has been arrested and has been charged with murder.”
Brigadier Beukes said police were aware of media reports the death may have been an accident, caused by suspicions of a break-in, but said that those reports did not come from information provided by police.
“There was no sign of forced entry or persons who weren’t supposed to be there at this stage,” she said.
“The South African Police Service was surprised to hear allegations on the radio this morning that the deceased had been perceived to be a burglar. The allegations did not come from us. The deceased was a friend of his.”
She added: “There are witnesses and they have also been interviewed this morning. We’re talking about neighbours and people that heard things that happened earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place.”
Forensic tests were continuing on the premises.
Police will oppose any bail application tomorrow and said at this stage there is no other suspect involved.
Beukes added: “There were only two people on the premises: the resident and the deceased.”
Pistorius is a national hero in South Africa and the world’s biggest star in Paralympic sport. The sprinter won two gold medals and a silver at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Brigadier Beukes said police were aware of previous incidents at the house where Pistorius lives.
She said: “I can’t confirm that it’s related to the person who has been arrested, but I can confirm there has previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorius.”
Asked what they had been, Brigadier Beukes said they were “of allegations of a domestic nature”.
