Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, broke down in tears in court after he was charged with shooting dead his girlfriend in his South African home.

The 26-year-old Olympic and Paralympic superstar stood with his head bowed in front of magistrate Desmond Nair to hear the charge that he had murdered model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius then started sobbing, covering his face with his hands. "Take it easy," Mr Nair told him. "Come take a seat."

His agent later said Pistorius disputes the allegation "in the strongest possible terms."

The case has stunned a nation that revered Pistorius as a hero who managed to compete at the highest levels of sport despite being born without a fibula in either leg.

Prosecutors told the Pretoria court the shooting of 30-year-old Ms Steenkamp in the early hours of Thursday was pre-meditated.

Pistorius faces life in prison if found guilty.

He did not enter a plea but a statement issued by his family and London-based agent said: "He [Pistorius] has made it very clear that he would like to send his deepest sympathies to the family of Reeva."

Ms Steenkamp was found shot dead in Pistorius's plush home in the middle of a heavily guarded gated complex in the northern outskirts of the capital.

The Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper said she was hit four times, in the head, chest, pelvis and hand.

"The security guards found Pistorius by Steenkamp's body in the bathroom," the paper reported, citing a neighbour.

Defence lawyer Kenny Oldwage said his client had an "extremely traumatised state of mind".

He did not request bail before proceedings were adjourned until February 19.

Early reports of the shooting suggested Pistorius may have mistaken Ms Steenkamp for an intruder, but police confirmed that neighbours had heard noises before the shots and that there had been previous "domestic" incidents at the house.

Pistorius said nothing during the 40-minute hearing. His father, Henke, and brother, Carl, sat behind him in the packed court-room, occasionally leaning forward to give him a pat on the shoulder. His mother died in 2002 when he was 15 years old – a tragedy that he said spurred him on in his quest to compete alongside able-bodied athletes.

Pistorius's tale of triumph over adversity was one of the most powerful in the history of sport.

South African newspapers plastered the killing across their front pages, reflecting shock and dismay at the fall of a man who commanded rare respect on all sides of the racial divides.

Pistorius's endorsements and sponsorships, which also include telecoms firm BT and sunglasses maker Oakley, are thought to be worth up to $2 million a year.