The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Oscar Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend Posted: 14 Feb 2013 03:14 PM PST  Pistorius (right) and Steenkamp pose for a picture in Johannesburg, February 7, 2013. — Reuters pic Police said they opened a murder case after a 30-year-old woman was found dead at the Paralympic and Olympic star's house in the Silverlakes gated complex on the capital's outskirts. Pistorius, 26, and his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, had been the only people in the house at the time of the shooting, police brigadier Denise Beukes told reporters, adding witnesses had been interviewed about the early morning incident. "We are talking about neighbours and people that heard things earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place," Beukes said outside the heavily guarded residential complex. Police said a 9mm pistol had been found at the scene. Beukes said police were aware of previous incidents at the Pistorius house. "I can confirm that there have previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorious, of allegations of a domestic nature," she said. Pistorius, who uses carbon fibre prosthetic blades to run, is due to appear in a Pretoria court today. "He is doing well but very emotional," his lawyer Kenny Oldwage told SABC TV, but gave no further comment. A sports icon for triumphing over disability to compete with able-bodied athletes at the Olympics, his sponsorship deals, including one with sports apparel group Nike, are thought to be worth US$2 million (RM6.2 million) a year. South Africa's M-Net cable TV channel said it was pulling adverts featuring Pistorius off air immediately after blanket coverage of the arrest in a country more used to honouring Pistorius as a national hero. Steenkamp's colleagues in the modelling world were distraught. "We are all devastated. Her family is in shock," her agent, Sarita Tomlinson, tearfully told Reuters. "They did have a good relationship. Nobody actually knows what happened." Pistorius, who was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400m semi-finals in London 2012. In last year's Paralympics he suffered his first loss over 200m in nine years. After the race he questioned the legitimacy of Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira's prosthetic blades, though he was quick to express regret for the comments. South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of violent crime, and many home owners have weapons to defend themselves against intruders, although Pistorius's complex is surrounded by a three-metre high wall and electric fence. In 2004, Springbok rugby player Rudi Visagie shot dead his 19-year-old daughter after he mistakenly thought she was a robber trying to steal his car in the middle of the night. Before the murder charge was announced, Johannesburg's Talk Radio 702 said the athlete may have mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar. Pistorius was arrested in 2009 for assault after slamming a door on a woman and spent a night in police custody. Family and friends said it was just an accident and charges were dropped. Steenkamp, a regular on the South African social scene, was reported to have been dating Pistorius for several months. In the social pages of last weekend's Sunday Independent she described him as having "impeccable" taste. "His gifts are always thoughtful," she was quoted as saying. Some of her last Twitter postings indicated she was looking forward to Valentine's Day yesterday. "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow???" she posted. Pistorius was yesterday being processed through the police system. "At this stage he is on his way to a district surgeon for medical examination," the police brigadier said. "When a person has been accused of a crime like murder they look at things like testing under the finger nails, taking a blood alcohol sample and all kinds of other test that are done. They are standard medical tests," Beukes said. Pistorius is also sponsored by British telecoms firm BT, sunglasses maker Oakley and French designer Thierry Mugler. "We are shocked by this terrible, tragic news. We await the outcome of the South African police investigation," a BT spokeswoman said before Pistorius was charged. A Nike spokesman in London said before hearing of the murder charge that the company was "saddened by the news, but we have no further comment to make at this stage". Pistorius also has a sponsorship deal with Icelandic prosthetics manufacturer Ossur. "I can only say that our thoughts and prayers are with Oscar and the families involved in the tragedy," Ossur CEO Jon Sigurdsson told Reuters. "It is completely premature to discuss or speculate on our business relationship with him." Neighbours expressed shock at the arrest of a "good guy". "It is difficult to imagine an intruder entering this community, but we live in a country where intruders can get in wherever they want to," said one Silverlakes resident, who did not want to be named. "Oscar is a good guy, an upstanding neighbour, and if he is innocent I feel for this guy deeply," he said. — Reuters |
| Stability the watchword for New Zealand challengers Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:35 AM PST  New Zealand All Blacks' Cory Jane scores a try during their Rugby Championship test match against Argentina Los Pumas in La Plata in this September 29, 2012 file photograph. — Reuters pic Only new Auckland Blues coach John Kirwan made wholesale changes with 16 new players included in his 32-man squad as he seeks to reinvigorate a moribund franchise. The All Blacks-laden Blues were tipped as winners of the competition last year but injuries to key players and big name signings Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu failing to spark caused the team to self destruct. The influx of fringe players towards the end of last season, brought about by the injury toll and former coach Pat Lam having nothing to lose, lay out a path to the future that Kirwan has embraced. Despite the new faces in the playing roster, arguably the best addition to improving the team's fortunes has been that of Kirwan and his fellow coaches. Kirwan wasted little time in asking former All Blacks coach Graham Henry to come on board as a technical adviser. Both are Auckland rugby icons, with the team's three Super Rugby titles all coming while Henry was involved. IT AIN'T BROKE In contrast to Kirwan's sweeping changes, Rennie, who guided the Chiefs to their first Super Rugby title with a 37-6 victory over the Sharks in the 2012 final, has adopted an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mantra. The Chiefs finally clicked last year under their rookie coach as their unsung forwards provided the grunt and a platform for flyhalf Aaron Cruden to run the game. Despite having lost Sonny Bill Williams from his backline, Rennie has tweaked rather than overhauled his squad and added players that give him solidity rather than out and out game-breaking ability. Mark Hammett at the Wellington Hurricanes has also made few changes with 24 players returning from his 2012 squad. The arrival of All Blacks prop Ben Franks to join a front row of Dane Coles and the promising Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen is a boost, while teenage loose forward Ardie Savea is already being compared to All Blacks great Michael Jones. The loss of winger Cory Jane to a knee injury will test their depth in the outside backs, though the 30-year-old has said his last two Super Rugby seasons were hardly of the standard he expected of himself. TITLE PRESSURE Canterbury Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has also tweaked his squad, though pressure is mounting on the former All Blacks captain to win the team's first title since 2008. A post-season review saw a restructuring of roles in the coaching set up and the departure of former assistant Daryl Gibson, who felt his post had been downgraded. Blackadder has promised a more attacking focus this year. While All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will miss the majority of the season as he takes a six-month sabbatical, Matt Todd has proved a more than competent replacement in the back row. Number eight Kieran Read will take over the captaincy, giving him the chance to further cement his leadership credentials as McCaw's successor in the national side. The Crusaders will also be without Zac Guildford for the early part of the season at least after the All Blacks winger voluntarily stood down to battle his problems with alcohol. Otago Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is also under title pressure after two solid seasons that were characterised by good starts followed by late-season fades. Some top-class recuriting has improved the depth of the squad with World Cup winners Tony Woodcock, Ma'a Nonu and Brad Thorn all joining this year after Hosea Gear ventured south in 2012. — Reuters |
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