Sunday, February 17, 2013

Blade Runner Murder Update


Was Reeva's skull crushed with bloodied cricket bat 'found' at Blade Runner's House? Horrific new claims about model's death

  • Athlete's best friend claims Pistorius called him moments after shooting
  • Reeva Steenkamp, 29, had been dating Oscar Pistorious since November 
  • She was shot dead on Valentine’s Day at his gated mansion in South Africa
  • 'There is no hatred in our hearts' says model's father Barry Steenkamp
  • Speculation surrounding model's relationship with South African rugby star
  • Pistorius tried to save blood-soaked Reeva with kiss of life after shooting

A bloodied cricket bat has been found at the home of Blade Runner, local sources say.
Police are working on theories that the bat could have been used by Oscar Pistorius to attack Reeva Steenkamp before shooting her dead, to break down the door of the bathroom where she was hiding, or even by the late model to defend herself, reported City Press in South Africa. 

It was also claimed that investigation sources said Miss Steenkamp's skull had been crushed.

Meanwhile his best friend has told how he received a phone call moments after Reeva Steenkamp had been shot dead and a distraught Pistorius later crying ‘My baba, I’ve killed my baba. God take me away.’

Before the Paralympic medallist called the emergency services he phoned Justin Divaris, 27, at 3.55am to tell him what had happened.

‘I said to him, “What are you talking about?” He then repeated himself – “There has been a terrible accident, I shot Reeva”,’ he told the Sunday People.

By the time the businessman had rushed to the athlete's luxury Pretoria home it had already been sealed off by police, but Mr Divaris described seeing the model 'covered in blankets and towels'.

Members of both families have spoken out today as Pistorius’s father Henke 59, said he had ‘zero doubt’ the fatal shooting was a mistake saying his son had ‘acted on instinct’.
The father of the South African model allegedly murdered by Oscar Pistorius spoke movingly yesterday of his family’s grief – and said he bore the athlete no animosity.

In an emotional interview with The Mail on Sunday, Barry Steenkamp said he was struggling ‘to find some reason why this happened to our lovely daughter’.

Pistorius broke down in tears in court when he was formally charged with Reeva Steenkamp’s premeditated murder and Mr Steenkamp said: ‘He must be going through things that we don’t know about. There is no hatred in our hearts.’
The athlete's father Henke Pistorius told the Sunday Telegraph a sportsman's 'instinct' was behind the tragedy, and said the family has pledged to do whatever it takes to clear Oscar's name.
Further details of the events at Pistorius’ Pretoria mansion in the early hours of Valentine’s Day have come to light as is was unveiled that he tried to give Miss Steenkamp the kiss of life.
 


    After Oscar Pistorius carried his girlfriend’s blood-soaked body from the bathroom where she was shot, he tried to revive her, sources close to the investigation told the Sun.

    ‘There was a great deal of blood and they were convinced Reeva was still alive at that point when Pistorius was giving her the kiss of life, but she died soon after,’ a South African source said last night.
    Pistorius was allegedly trying to save her with the kiss of life when a security guard and neighbour arrived following the noise of the gunshots, before she died in his arms moments later.

    Scroll down for video

    Speculation: Reeva Steenkamp is understood to have dated rugby star Francois Hougaard in the past
    Speculation: Reeva Steenkamp is understood to have dated rugby star Francois Hougaard in the past
    Yesterday speculation about whether Ms Steenkamp's relationship with a playboy rugby player could have been behind a possible row which may have led to her tragic death.
    South African reports have linked the 29-year-old to Springbok Francois Hougaard - a close friend of Pistorius - according to the Sunday Mirror.
    The 24-year-old failed to turn out for a scheduled match with his side the Vodacom Bulls in the days after Ms Steenkamp's death.
    The pair, who have been friends for a number of years and were in regular contact via Twitter, are understood to have dated in the past.
    Among those to comment on the speculation surrounding their relationship on Twitter were Nelson Mandela's personal assistant, whose reference to 'rumours about a rugby player alleged to be involved somehow' was later retweeted by South African journalist Barry Bateman to his 18,000 strong Twitter following.
    Tragic: Mr Steenkamp, a horse trainer, wept as he said he and his wife June were at 'a complete loss'
    Tragic: Mr Steenkamp, a horse trainer, wept as he said he and his wife June were at 'a complete loss'
    Ms Steenkamp had been dating Pistorius, a double-amputee known as the Blade Runner, since November. 
    It has been reported she was hit four times by bullets fired through the door of a bathroom. Pistorius, 26, a keen marksman, owned a pistol and machine gun.
    Sources told how he carried his dying girlfriend from the bathroom, her blood splattering the staircase, as he desperately tried to revive her.
    The pair had been called South Africa’s ‘golden couple’, and the arrest of Pistorius – who in London last year became the first man to compete at both an Olympics and Paralympics – was met with disbelief.
    Blade Runner: Pistorius ran in both the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics last year
    Blade Runner: Pistorius ran in both the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics last year
    Speaking for the first time since the death of his law graduate daughter, Mr Steenkamp, a horse trainer, wept as he said he and his wife June were at ‘a complete loss’.
    He said: ‘This is a very difficult time for us. June is inconsolable. We just need to find some answers. We ask the Lord every day to help us find a reason why this should happen to Reeva. She was the most beautiful, kind girl in the world. She had love for everyone, and she was loved by everyone who knew her.’
    Mr Steenkamp said he had never met Pistorius but his wife occasionally spoke to him on the phone.
    On the day of the killing, Ms Steenkamp had been due to give a talk to high school pupils ‘to empower them to be confident’. 
    Her father said: ‘That’s what she was like, always wanting to help others.’
    'God take me away': Pistorius wept in court in Pretoria at his bail hearing following the death of Steenkamp
    'God take me away': Pistorius wept in court in Pretoria at his bail hearing following the death of Steenkamp
    Former girlfriends of the Paralympian have publicly suggested he has a dark side. 
    One, 26-year-old student Samantha Taylor, said he is ‘certainly not what people think he is’. 
    The Mail on Sunday has learned that Ms Taylor has been warned  to expect a subpoena, forcing her to give evidence at Pistorius’s trial.
    Ms Steenkamp appeared on a TV programme, Tropika Island of Treasure, in South Africa last night, which sees celebrities paired with contestants competing for a cash prize. 
    Executive producer Samantha Moon claimed the programme had the backing of Reeva’s family. She said: ‘This is how they want to remember her.’ 
    Reeva’s funeral will be on Tuesday, the same day Pistorius  is due in  court where it is understood lawyers will say the shooting was a tragic accident.

     VIDEO   Pistorius' sister Aimee and agent visit him in the cells 

     VIDEO  Devastated family of Oscar Pistorius read statement  

     VIDEO   Reality TV show releases clips of Pistorius' dead girlfriend Steenkamp 


    24 comments:

    Tania Cadogan said...

    My first instinctive reaction is if it was an accident as claimed,

    WHY DID HE NOT CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY?

    Innocent people dial 911 or whatever it is in the country they are in.

    Guilty people often call a close friend/family member/lawyer first.

    Tania Cadogan said...

    Why did he apprantly shoot her through the bathroom door?

    One assumes he knew she was present in the house,if he thought there was an intruder as claimed, how did he know it was an intruder and not someone else in the house?

    He must be a damn good shot to hit a target hidden behind a closed door and get them in the body and head.

    if there is a bloodied bat with her blood on it, the pattern of blood on the bat, her and the sourroung area such as walls , floors and ceiling will show the direction of any blows and also the shots.

    He may be able to claim the bat was contaminated when he carried her out and tried to keep her alive(if the bat reports are true)

    The autopsy will reveal all injuries and what was caused by what.

    Injuries from more than one weapon cannot be passed off as accident leaving a possible self defence claim ( depending which way the bullets were going, into the bathroom or out of the bathroom. Going in and self defence won't work, going out ie he was in the bathroom again unlikely since he would have to know where she was in relation to the door. She had 4 shots, how many were actually fired?

    Anonymous said...

    I read one article from a New Zealand newspaper that stated one shot was fired in the bed room where they think she was hit in the hip, then she ran down the hall and locked herself in the bathroom. His defense is rediculous.

    Sus said...

    According to another news source, the neighbors called the police at midnight because of loud arguing coming from the apartment. The neighbors called again at 3:00 am after they heard shots. I don't see how that is an accident.

    BostonLady said...

    OT.. News is reporting that Mindy McCready committed suicide today. Tragic.

    BostonLady said...

    http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/02/17/country-singer-mindy-mccready-dead-apparent-suicide/?intcmp=HPBucket


    Above is the news article.

    equinox said...

    OT: Most hyped belief of the Neuro-Linguistic Programming system debunked.

    Eye glance direction has nothing to do with lying.

    I never believed this, but its been a centerpiece of a hogwash "technology" for many years: NLP. I knew one of the founders of the "mind-f**k" systemologies rampant in the 80s and 90s. He was one of the creepiest, most twisted people I've ever met. EST, NLP, Scientology etc are all from a common source of practitioning of mind-control sciences. Used by cults and hucksters for ages, systemized in these bogus "self-help" practices. It's taking far too long to peel off the veneer.

    Anonymous said...

    he acted on "instinct"!!!???

    please tell me this is not a serious defense!

    Why did the father say "our daughter"? Bad relationship with his wife?

    Anonymous said...

    Her head was bashed in..... Not sure how he will explain that one!

    Anonymous said...

    They now found steroids in his house. Hmmm, not only might he be guilty of murder, but might be stripped of his medals.

    Anonymous said...

    yes, I read a comment somewhere it could have been "roid rage"

    Anonymous said...

    This is an individual that despite overcoming so many obstacles, he still felt inadequate. I am apalled that on the day of love, this beautiful woman was shot and killed by this violent and pathetic creature. I was at one time impressed by him. All I feel for him now is disgust. How could he!? She was in a battered relationship in the past. She perpetuated her cycle. I have a hard time understanding how that can happen. She was so beautiful, it would have been so easy for her to have walked away from this creep. Her parents should feel anger and rage towards him. He killed their daughter! I want justice for her!

    Anonymous said...

    I agree, they should be angry. Maybe this is how she became a victim? Her parents did not protect her enough or teach her enough about evil in the world? They encouraged her to understand others a little too much?

    Anonymous said...

    There are news reports that she ws in a nightgown and had her overnight bag at the house with her Ipad. The bed shows signs that it was slept in.

    Couple that with the neighbors who heard the arguing and I think we can rule out the intruder theory.

    And now we have a bat.

    Other repots indicated that she was hiding in the toilet room. Some houses have a seperate small room with a regular door for the toilet. So, a few random shots probably would have hit her somewhere. No need for great marksmanship.

    Once again more proof that phyiscal prowess in athletics does not a moral character make.

    Tania Cadogan said...

    If steroids were found in the house i wonder if all his samples will be tested again from the races he has entered including the olympics?

    'roid rage would explain some of why it may have happened, would depend on when he started and how much he was taking.

    What is of import is his desire to win, to be the best.
    This was particularly noticeable when he was challenging the able-bodied race organisations to let him compete on an equal footing (no sniggering at the back) with able bodied athletes. He wanted to be on a par with them.

    It does however give hima tick in his defence box, him being disabled, he could claim she mocked his disabilty, implied he was not man enough for her and it was her comments that provoked him to lash out.

    I also wonder what if any medications he is on legally?

    being a double amputee may work in his favor (the sympathy card)

    Anonymous said...

    Her parents are not even mad and she was JUST shot and killed a day ago??? They seek to understand Bladerunner instead? That's called evil, folks. No wonder she was in abusive relationships--messed up parents who aren't even angry at the guy who killed her. Messed up!!!!!!!

    Red Ryder said...

    The quote about Reeva's father using "our daughter", I read another article ( sorry no link but can't be hard to find) and he was with his wife as he spoke using the plural "we" so in this case "our daughter" would be appropriate use of pronouns etc and not indicative of poor relationship with wife. In another place he was quoted with a correct social introduction of his wife, "my wife, name..." .
    We are given snippets of their comments . When I have found longer quotes it is clear that they are Christians and are doing their best to follow their faith~to love, to forgive. However,I don't think it is easy. He said something like "I have no hate for him."
    Knowing tthat which is stated in the negative is doubly sensitive Mr.S appears to be understandably struggling. Don't be harsh on her folks. They have lost their beloved daughter, sister, niece and are trying to live out the tenets they profess in the face of horrific pain.

    Unknown said...

    http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/19/17006698-pistorius-i-felt-sense-of-terror-on-night-i-mistakenly-shot-deeply-loved-girlfriend?lite
    "I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said.
    "I heard a noise in my bathroom. ... I felt a sense of terror. ... I believed that someone had entered my house. ... I grabbed my 9mm pistol," it said.
    “As I did not have my prosthetic legs on I felt extremely vulnerable. I had to protect Reeva and myself. ... I had limited mobility on my stumps,” it said.

    The above quotes are from a written statement read at his prelim. I'm not sure it's very helpful for two reasons: one - the ellipses - I'm a reporter and I use ellipses to indicate I've only used a partial quote - so I don't know here if the ellipses indicate missing wording or indicate pauses in the reading of the statement. And two - is it possible to do SA on a written statement which may well have been written by an attorney?

    Unknown said...

    http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/19/17006698-pistorius-i-felt-sense-of-terror-on-night-i-mistakenly-shot-deeply-loved-girlfriend?lite
    "I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said.
    "I heard a noise in my bathroom. ... I felt a sense of terror. ... I believed that someone had entered my house. ... I grabbed my 9mm pistol," it said.
    “As I did not have my prosthetic legs on I felt extremely vulnerable. I had to protect Reeva and myself. ... I had limited mobility on my stumps,” it said.

    The above quotes are from a written statement read at his prelim. I'm not sure it's very helpful for two reasons: one - the ellipses - I'm a reporter and I use ellipses to indicate I've only used a partial quote - so I don't know here if the ellipses indicate missing wording or indicate pauses in the reading of the statement. And two - is it possible to do SA on a written statement which may well have been written by an attorney?

    Anonymous said...

    I am a long time student of this blog.In this case I am a South African who lives 5Km from where this took place. I am waiting for a statement or comments which are actually from Pistorius and not his lawyers.
    A few observations which people from other countries may find interesting.
    Yes the crime here is out of control! A young woman was murdered in her home one block from us a few years ago. We had 4 armed home invasions in 2 months. We now have 6ft walls electric fencing, re-inforced burglar bars, security system and cctv cameras. The neighbourhood operates a two-way radio system and neighbours rush to each others aid as it is often pointless to call the police help line. Calls just go unanswered and if you call the police station directly the chances they will come ( the same one where Pistorius was taken)is very slim as they only have 2 vans which cover a huge area. We however, do not own firearms as we feel they are so often turned on the owner.(if you are interested in the true state of crime in SA the web is a source of much information.
    In South African law the trial is conducted in front of a judge we do not have a jury system here. Perhaps for this reason the media is free to print almost anything and everything. To date most of the information appearing is unsubstantiated. It would be best to wait for the trial to separate fact from fiction.
    All this been said I have my own personal opinion about guilt or innocence but I am waiting for more statements. There is a clip on Youtube which i am trying to find the link for where Pistorius was interviewed about 2 years ago about an incident when a young lady was hurt at his home. He spent the night in police cells but was released. It makes for good statement analysis

    Unknown said...

    I agree totally with Hobnob's statement posted 2/17 4:07 pm. Obviously he crushed her head in first with the bat,possibly downstairs and then carried her upstairs and shot her in the bathroom to make it look like "an intruder" was in the house.If I thought there was an intruder in my house,1st I'd wake up my husband, who would be lying right next to me. My husband would more than likely "hear" an intruder as well and wake up with me.Pistorius didn't think to wake her and tell her to get under the bed, or hide, because he heard something,if he really thought she was lying beside him? I would wake my partner, because if there was even a remote chance of me having to shoot some intruder, my partner would hear and probably run out of the the bedroom and right in harm's way. And WHY would he move her body??? Is it because he beat her with the bat first, possibly downstairs,and then took her upstairs and shot her in bathroom. To explain why there was blood splatter downstairs, he would have to say he moved her after he shot her. So if he had beat her 1st downstairs, blood would be all over. And the splatter direction will reveal the truth. Forensics,
    forensics. And since he is so paranoid about intruders and the crime rate is so high,then wouldn't he live in a heavily protected home designed to keep out intruders from being able to come in? He could afford anything. Electric fences, metal bars, ect. Even security guards. Stupid story. And now he is locked into it.

    Unknown said...

    I agree totally with Hobnob's statement posted 2/17 4:07 pm. Obviously he crushed her head in first with the bat,possibly downstairs and then carried her upstairs and shot her in the bathroom to make it look like "an intruder" was in the house.If I thought there was an intruder in my house,1st I'd wake up my husband, who would be lying right next to me. My husband would more than likely "hear" an intruder as well and wake up with me.Pistorius didn't think to wake her and tell her to get under the bed, or hide, because he heard something,if he really thought she was lying beside him? I would wake my partner, because if there was even a remote chance of me having to shoot some intruder, my partner would hear and probably run out of the the bedroom and right in harm's way. And WHY would he move her body??? Is it because he beat her with the bat first, possibly downstairs,and then took her upstairs and shot her in bathroom. To explain why there was blood splatter downstairs, he would have to say he moved her after he shot her. So if he had beat her 1st downstairs, blood would be all over. And the splatter direction will reveal the truth. Forensics,
    forensics. And since he is so paranoid about intruders and the crime rate is so high,then wouldn't he live in a heavily protected home designed to keep out intruders from being able to come in? He could afford anything. Electric fences, metal bars, ect. Even security guards. Stupid story. And now he is locked into it.

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