SOUTH African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is to appear in court today charged with murder after his girlfriend was shot dead at his home.

According to initial reports in local media, model Reeva Steenkamp, 30, may have been mistaken for a burglar at the property in the Silver Lakes Golf Estate in Pretoria.

But police said the shooting early today was being treated as a murder investigation and said there had been previous incidents at the address described as “allegations of a domestic nature”.

Brigadier Denise Beukes also said police were “very surprised” by the burglar suggestion, telling reporters near the scene: “These allegations did not come from us.”

Brigadier Beukes said Pistorius will be appearing in court this afternoon and bringing a formal bail application.

Confirming there had been previous “incidents” at the athlete’s home, she said: “I can’t confirm that it’s related to the person that’s arrested but I can confirm there has previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorius.”

She said these were “allegations of a domestic nature”.

She said there was no signs of forced entry at the address.

And asked about speculation the victim may have been mistaken for a burglar, she said: “The South African Police Service were just as surprised this morning to hear over the radio that allegations had been made that the deceased had been perceived to be a burglar.

“We were very surprised and those allegations did not come from us.”