OSCAR Pistorius IN COURT

Oscar Pistorius holds his head in his hands 

Charged: The 26-year-old is accused of killing of FHM cover girl Reeva Steenkamp, 29, whose name was officially revealed for the first time at the hearing, in the early hours of Valentine's Day

Overcome with emotion

The celebrated runner began sobbing, covering his face with his hands, as the charge against him was read out.

Chief magistrate Desmond Nair told him: 'Take it easy. Come take a seat.'

The hearing came after a two-hour delay while Pistorius's lawyers objected to the scrum of local and international reporters packed into the courtroom.

Support: Pistorius's father, Henke, reaches out to his son after his emotional court appearance

Difficult time: Henke Pistorius talks to Pistorius's sister Aimee (right) during the court hearing

Keeping in the loop: Henke Pistorius talks on a cellphone. The family later said Pistorius denied the charge in the 'strongest terms'

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the sportsman that he intends to argue that he took part in a 'premeditated murder'.Pistorius said nothing during the 40-minute hearing. Henke and Carl Pistorius sat directly behind him, occasionally leaning forward to give him a pat on the shoulder.

At this, Pistorius once again slumped forward with his head in his hands.

While, under South African law, there is only a charge of murder, anyone committed of a murder that has an element of pre-planning faces an automatic life sentence, unless the court can find an exceptional reason not to grant life.

If Pistorius is sent to prison for 'life', that, in a South African context, would mean that he will spend at least 25 years in prison.  

He would not be eligible for parole until he is 51.

His defence lawyer said the Paralympian is in a 'traumatised state of mind'.

A bail hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, with police expected to oppose the application.

The hearing was adjourned and Pistorius will be held at a local police station until his next court appearance.

Afterwards, his family and management company issued a statement, saying: 'Firstly, and most importantly, all our thoughts today must be with the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp.

'Oscar Pistorius has appeared in court here in Pretoria this morning formally charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. 

'The alleged murder is disputed in the strongest terms.

'Oscar Pistorius has made history as an Olympic and Paralympic sportsman and has been an inspiration to others the world over.

'He has made it very clear that he would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva.

'He would also like to express his thanks through us today for all the messages of support he has received - but as stated our thoughts and prayers today should be for Reeva and her family, regardless of the circumstances of this terrible, terrible tragedy.'

 INSIDE COURT  Pistorius case adjourned. Paralympian in custody 

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In despair: Pistorius's defence lawyer said the Paralympian is in a 'traumatised state of mind'

Accused: Pistorius is escorted by police into the dock during his court appearance in Pretoria

Worldwide attention: The hearing came after a two-hour delay while Pistorius's lawyers objected to the scrum of reporters that packed into the courtroom

Keeping him calm: Chief magistrate Desmond Nair (left) told Pistorius: 'Take it easy. Come take a seat'

Postponed: The bail hearing was adjourned until next week, with police expected to oppose the application

Those who knew Pistorius, including a former girlfriend, also weighed in on social media. 

Trish Taylor, mother of Pistorius' ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor, wrote on Facebook: 'I'm so glad Sammy is safe and out of the clutches of that man.' 

But another ex-girlfriend, Jenna Edkins, defended Pistorius in messages Friday on Twitter. 

'All I am saying is let him speak, let his side be heard without jumping to conclusions,' Edkins wrote. 

She offered 'love and support' to the Pistorius family and wrote: 'I have dated Oscar on and off for 5 YEARS, NOT ONCE has he EVER lifted a finger to me or made me fear for my life.' 

Meanwhile, police said today that an autopsy on the body of the victim was taking place. Lt Col Katlego Mogale said the results of the autopsy would not be published.

The court opened at just before 7am GMT today, as he arrived.

Lethal weapon: A police officer holds a gun allegedly used in the shooting of Miss Steenkamp outside the Boschkop police station, east of Pretoria

Charged: Oscar Pistorius covers his face with a jacket as he leaves Boshkop police station ahead of his court appearance in Pretoria this morning accused of murdering his model girlfriend

Show of support: A family friend hugs the Paralympian's brother Carl ahead of the athlete's court appearance

He was seen coming out of the police station where he had been held overnight covering his face with the jacket of his suit.

Henke and Carl Pistorius hugged each other in a show of solidarity before following the police escort that took the double amputee to the courthouse. Both looked tired and strained.

Pistorius was swept into the courthouse, hidden in the back of a police car, which had its windows blocked with paper to prevent anyone seeing the alleged murderer's face.

Pistorius had initially been expected to appear in court yesterday, but the hearing was postponed to allow forensics more time to study his mansion.

As he awaited his hearing, the Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper claimed Miss Steenkamp had been shot four times, in the head, chest, pelvis and hand through the bathroom door.

Murder suspect: Olympic and Paralympic star Reeva Steenkamp, 29, who was shot dead yesterday. The runner is due in court today

Last photo: Oscar Pistorius and girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp pose for a picture in Johannesburg last Thursday. He has been charged with shooting her dead in the early hours of yesterday morning

Ominous: The Paralympic sprinter posted this message on Twitter on November 27

Police said an application for bail by Pistorius's lawyer Kenny Oldwage would be opposed when he appears in court.

Dressed in a grey hooded jacket, tracksuit trousers and trainers, Pistorius, 26, walked with head bowed from the Boschkop police station yesterday before being taken to Pretoria's Mamelodi Day Hospital in a police convoy.

Brig Beukes said the medical examination was 'standard procedure'.

Pistorius's spokesman, from the Fast Track agency in London, said he was 'assisting the police with their investigations' but no further comment could be made until matters became clearer.

Initial rumours suggested the shooting may have been a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong.

The couple had only been going out since November.

Miss Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, tweeted the day before Valentine's Day: 'What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? £getexcited £ValentinesDay.'

Pistorius appeared to have serious concerns about his safety and was said to sleep with a revolver by his side.

Charged: Pistorius, his head lowered and face covered, leaves the Boschkop police station in Pretoria for a blood test at hospital prior to being taken to court

Star: Oscar Pistorius was arrested yesterday morning accused of having shot his girlfriend in the head and arm, killing her

The paper, which carried the headline 'Death behind a door', quotes unnamed residents who say they had spoken to security guards at his gated complex.

'The security guards found Pistorius by Steenkamp's body in the bathroom,' the paper said on its website, citing a neighbour. 'The door had bullet holes right through it.'

It is not clear whether the door was locked at the time of the shooting.

Initial reports suggested the model may have been mistaken for a burglar, but Brigadier Denise Beukes later said police were 'very surprised' by that suggestion, adding: 'These allegations did not come from us.'

There had been previous incidents of a 'domestic nature' at the property on the exclusive, gated Silver Lakes Golf Estate in the South African capital Pretoria, she added. 

Beauty: A modelling photo used in Reeva Steenkamp's portfolio. Mr Taylor said that she 'touched many lives and was headed for stardom'

Message: Reeva went on to Twitter to say how excited she was about Valentine's Day

A 9mm pistol was recovered and, according to unconfirmed reports, four shots were fired.

Police spokeswoman Lt Col Katlego Mogale said: 'Paramedics declared the woman dead on the scene and police proceeded with their investigation.

'The woman sustained wounds to her head and the upper body.'

A journalist from the Daily Mail interviewed him last summer and noted: 'This being South Africa, one baseball bat and one cricket bat lie behind Pistorius's bedroom door.

'A revolver is at his bedside. A machine gun by his window.'

The athlete made history at the London 2012 Olympics becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete in the able-bodied Games, running in the 400m and 4x400m relay.

The star was born without fibulas and underwent below-the-knee amputations at just 11 months old.

Home: Neighbours of the athlete say they heard noise from the house (pictured yesterday) just before the authorities arrived

Investigation: South African police vehicles enter the Silver Woods security estate in Pretoria East where Oscar Pistorius, allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

He had to win a legal battle over his blades with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2008 for the right to compete in able-bodied competition.

Pistorius's father said his son was 'sad' following the shooting.

Henke Pistorius told SABC radio news: 'I don't know the facts. If anyone makes a statement, it will have to be Oscar. He's sad at the moment.'

The couple were dubbed the Posh and Becks of South Africa.

On her Twitter biography, Miss Steenkamp described herself as a 'Model, Cover Girl, Tropika Island Of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Child of God'.

Tropika island Of Treasure is a TV show she was due to appear on this weekend.

Miss Steenkamp's publicist Sarit Tomlinson paid tribute to her, saying she was 'the sweetest human being and an absolute angel on earth'.

She added: 'She was the kindest, most unbelievable girl.'

Advert: An image on Pistorius's website for his sponsor Nike, linked to his love of shooting, has been removed

Adverts for television coverage of the Oscars featuring Oscar Pistorius were seen being pulled down in Johannesburg

Workmen move quickly to replace the roadside posters in the South Africa city

She told Sky News: 'It's shocking. No one knows what happened. We're waiting for information.

'There are people we are waiting to speak to, to validate some of the stories.'

Asked about Miss Steenkamp's relationship with Pistorius, Ms Tomlinson said: 'They had been together for a couple of months and it's been a fabulous relationship - a healthy, fabulous relationship.'

Miss Steenkamp's friend Mashadi Motsogi broke down in tears.

The distressed model said she heard the news of Miss Steenkamp's death on Twitter.

'I have lost a friend,' she said, telling reporters that Miss Steenkamp's death in a secure complex did not make sense.

'Look, security here is safe. We moved to this area for security reasons. It does not make sense to me that my friend was shot, mistaken for an intruder.'

Scene: Police were called to Oscar's home, pictured, at 4am where a 29-year-old woman was treated by