Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murder following the death of his girlfriend this morning.

Pistorius will appear in a Pretoria court at 2pm local time (1200GMT) when police said they would oppose a bail application.

Pistorius, 26, is alleged to have killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died of gunshot wounds at an address in the city.

Police spokeswoman Brigadier Denise Beukes said at a press conference: "A 26-year-old man has been arrested and has been charged with murder.

"At this stage he is on his way to the district surgeon for a medical examination and he will be appearing at Pretoria magistrates' courts at 2pm this afternoon."

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