Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius has been formally charged with one count of murder at Pretoria Magistrates' Court this morning.
The 26-year-old was arrested and questioned yesterday following the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who is thought to have been shot four times in the head and the upper body at Pistorius's home in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The double amputee, who arrived at court around 7am UK time, broke down in tears when he received the formal charge, according to BBC journalist Andrew Harding.
While there had been reports that Pistorius mistook his girlfriend for an intruder, South African police attempted to quash such suggestions.
The authorities claimed yesterday that the victim and Pistorius were the only people in the home, where a 9mm pistol was found following the incident.
Police also revealed that they had received calls of a "domestic nature" at the same residence in the past.
Danielle Joynson
