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Oscar Pistorius is due to reappear at Pretoria magistrates’ court over the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The prosecution is expected to serve the South African athlete with an indictment for the premeditated murder of his girlfriend. A trial date will also be set.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp, saying he shot her after mistaking her for an intruder.

He was granted bail in February and has since resumed some low-key training.

The double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.

Oscar Pistorius’ arrest in February stunned many South Africans who saw him as a national sporting hero after his long legal battle to be able to take part in the Olympics.

Oscar Pistorius is due to reappear at Pretoria magistrates' court over the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius is due to reappear at Pretoria magistrates’ court over the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

State prosecutors are arguing that the killing was premeditated, a charge which carries a sentence of life imprisonment. They say he killed Reeva Steenkamp intentionally after a fight.

But Oscar Pistorius denies committing murder, claiming he shot his girlfriend through the bathroom door of his upmarket house in Pretoria after mistaking her for a burglar.

The prosecution is expected to hand over details of its case against Oscar Pistorius at Monday’s hearing, including a witness list and forensic reports.

Much depends on ballistic evidence from the bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was shot.

South African newspapers have reported that at least some of that forensic evidence appears to back up OScar Pistorius’ version of events, he continues.

However, the prosecution is expected to call witnesses who will say the Olympic runner was preoccupied with guns, and had been arguing with his girlfriend.

Prosecutors told the Associated Press news agency that additional charges might be added to the indictment but did not offer any details.

Last week, the police wrapped up their six-month investigation into Reeva Steenkamp’s killing.

“The South African Police Service is hopeful that justice will prevail,” a statement from the office of South Africa’s national police commissioner read.

In June, Oscar Pistorius resumed “low-key” training as a way to help him “process the trauma”, a statement on his website read.

Oscar Pistorius was freed on a bail of R1million ($110,000).

A court in March eased Oscar Pistorius’ travel restrictions, allowing him to leave South Africa to compete as long as he complied with certain conditions.

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South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has appeared in court for the first time since he was freed on bail over the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp earlier this year.

After a brief hearing in Pretoria, the magistrate agreed to a request from both prosecution and defense to postpone the hearing until August 19.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, through the bathroom door of his house in Pretoria on February 14, 2013.

The Paralympic champion denies committing murder, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius wore a grey suit and appeared composed as he arrived at court to meet a barrage of photographers and journalists. He was surrounded by his family and friends for the hearing.

He spoke only once, confirming: “Yes, Your Honour” when asked if he understood the magistrate’s comments.

Both the prosecution and the defense teams asked that the hearing be postponed until August 19 to give them more time to prepare their case.

Oscar Pistorius hearing over Reeva Steenkamp murder postponed until August

Oscar Pistorius hearing over Reeva Steenkamp murder postponed until August

Magistrate Daniel Thulare agreed to the postponement and extended Oscar Pistorius’s bail conditions until that date.

On Monday, Oscar Pistorius’ family said they were “shaken” by leaked, graphic photos published by Sky News, which showed the bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

Police said they were “disgusted” by the leak.

Oscar Pistorius is a double amputee who won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed in the Olympics.

His arrest in February stunned many South Africans who saw him as a national sporting hero after his long legal battle to be able to compete in the Olympics.

The prosecution has accused Oscar Pistorius of premeditated murder, alleging that he killed Reeva Steenkamp intentionally after a fight.

Oscar Pistorius was freed on a bail of 1 million rand ($110,000). A court in March eased his travel restrictions, allowing him to leave South Africa to compete as long as he complied with certain conditions.

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The bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead by Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been pictured for the first time.

The pictures show inside Oscar Pistorius’ house in Pretoria, South Africa, where Reeva Steenkamp was killed in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.

Big spots of bl**d cover the toilet and floor of the room, with police tape marking the holes where bullets flew through the bathroom door, which is missing a panel.

Reeva Steenkamp was killed in Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom in the early hours of Valentine's Day

Reeva Steenkamp was killed in Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom in the early hours of Valentine’s Day

It is thought that the low position of the bullet holes will be used by Oscar Pistorius’ defense team to argue that he was not wearing his prosthetic legs at the time of the shooting, so could not have planned the murder.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, claims he shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, by accident because he believed a burglar had entered their home while they slept.

The pictures, obtained by Sky News, also show trails of bl**d leading from the bathroom and down the stairs of the house, from Oscar Pistorius carrying Reeva Steenkamp’s body as he called for help.

In one poignant scene, a Valentine’s gift for Oscar Pistorius, 26, from his girlfriend remains unopened.

A card bearing the nickname “Ozzy” and a packet of heart-shaped sweets lie on top of a parcel wrapped in striped paper.

Oscar Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder for the shooting of his model girlfriend.

He is due in court on Tuesday for a brief hearing while the police investigation continues.

The Sky footage also shows bl**died footprints – thought to have been caused by investigating officer Hilton Botha walking into the house without protective covers on his shoes.

The investigation into Reeva Steenkamp’s death has been heavily criticized.

Officer Hilton Botha was then forced to step down when it emerged he faced seven charges of attempted murder for a 2011 case in which he and two other officers fired on a vehicle in an attempt to make it stop.

Sources told Sky News that other officers in the case are being investigated for the disappearance of a watch belonging to Oscar Pistorius.

Today, his uncle Arnold Pistorius described what life is like for the athlete while he waits for his trial to begin.

He told CNN: “He is housebound. He doesn’t go out in public places.

“But he’s not keen to go out. This fits him at the moment.

“He’s got photos [of Reeva Steenkamp] in his room, he’s got photos all over the places.

“If the person you love the most died and you were the instrument, how would you feel? It’s unthinkable.

“[His life] won’t be the same again. He will have to cope with it somehow.”

Earlier this week, Oscar Pistorius was fined about $95,000 for not paying his taxes in South Africa.

The fine came after he was forced to declare his assets during his bail hearing in February.

Oscar Pistorius declared in an affidavit during his application that he earned around $660,000 a year and owned three houses and land in South Africa with a combined value of nearly $950,000.

Media reports in South Arica suggested that he also owned another property, in Johannesburg, which was bought for around $950,000 this year.

That house was not declared as part of his assets in his affidavit.

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Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa.

A magistrate ruled that Carl Pistorius, 28, had not been negligent in the death of Marietjie Barnard in March 2008.

The prosecution admitted it had been unable to prove the charges and said it would take no further action.

The case had attracted attention as it came to court shortly after Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa

Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa

Oscar Pistorius, 26, is charged with premeditated murder for the Valentine’s Day shooting, but says he mistook 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar.

Carl Pistorius cried with relief, reported AP news agency, as the magistrate acquitted him of the charges against him, which also included reckless driving.

Instead, the magistrate ruled, Marietjie Barnard, 36, had been driving excessively fast when she crashed into the back of his vehicle.

“We are satisfied with the outcome and Carl is also happy to see the end of this case,” said Carl Pistorius’ lawyer Kenny Oldwage following the hearing at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court south of Johannesburg.

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South African athlete Oscar Pistorius will not compete again this year as he awaits trial for murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius, 26, is on bail after being charged with the murder of 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp but can compete before his court case is heard.

His agent, Peet van Zyl, said the six-time Paralympic champion was not mentally ready to return to the track.

“There was never any pressure from me or his coach (Ampie Louw) to return, it’s his decision,” said Peet van Zyl.

It means Oscar Pistorius will not compete in the IPC World Championships in Lyon in July.

Oscar Pistorius was arrested after shooting Reeva Steenkamp dead on February 14 and has not competed since.

Oscar Pistorius will not compete again this year as he awaits trial for murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius will not compete again this year as he awaits trial for murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

The double amputee, known as Blade Runner because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in, claimed he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar and has denied murder.

On February 22, Oscar Pistorius was granted bail and had certain conditions lifted which meant he could compete in events outside his homeland.

Coach Ampie Louw was quoted by Eye Witness News in South Africa as saying his athlete was “nowhere close” to being in a position to train.

Oscar Pistorius had not been invited to compete in July’s London Anniversary Games, with UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner saying he did not want the meeting to turn into a “media circus”.

However, Oscar Pistorius’s agent said plenty of meeting organisers had been in touch to invite athlete to compete in their events.

“[There] were a good number, enough to keep him busy through the year,” added Peet van Zyl.

At London 2012, Oscar  Pistorius became the first double amputee to run at an Olympics, taking part in both the 400 m and 4×400 m relay.

He then won gold medals in the T44 400 m and T42-46 4×100 m at the Paralympics, as well as silver in the T44 200 m.

Oscar Pistorius is next due in court on June 4 and a trial is expected to take place before the end of this year.

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South African Paralympic Oscar Pistorius appears to be back at the track for the first time since he was charged with murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day this year.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, is pictured with his hands on his hips wearing his blades as he walks across a running track as his agent said his return to training was imminent.

The double amputee Olympian is keen to begin training again – just weeks after he appeared weeping in court charged with the death of Reeva Steenkamp and despite facing a murder trial.

The Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper printed the image of what it said was Oscar Pistorius on the front page of its Thursday edition.

In the photo, Oscar Pistorius is seen from some distance wearing his blades and dark lycra running clothes and is walking on a track with his hands on his hips.

The Beeld said the photo was taken on March 24 by a high school student visiting the University of Pretoria, where Oscar Pistorius’ regular practice facility is.

It was the first time Oscar Pistorius had put his blades on since he shot dead Reeva Steenkamp in his home his agent, Peet van Zyl, said, but it was not a training session.

Oscar Pistorius appears to be back at the track for the first time since he was charged with murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius appears to be back at the track for the first time since he was charged with murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius was only “having a jog around the track”, the agent said, as the newspaper claimed sources had told it the Olympic 400-meter runner and Paralympic champion had begun full training on March 21.

Peet Van Zyl disputed that and said neither he nor Ampie Louw, Oscar Pistorius’ coach and the man who controls his training sessions, were present at the track on the day the photograph was taken.

The single photo, a grainy image taken through a metal fence showing Oscar Pistorius walking on the far side of the track, was accompanied by a front-page story under the headlines “Oscar is back on the track” and “In training with other athletes”.

However, while Oscar Pistorius wasn’t yet in a training routine, his return could be any day now, his agent said.

“He was just having a jog around his track on his own accord. He wasn’t back at training,” Peet Van Zyl said.
“That picture was taken by a schoolkid on March 24. Myself, Oscar and his coach had a meeting on Tuesday to discuss him getting him back to training.

“Based on that he told us he would like to get back in training and we can now look at formulating his training schedule.

“He is finding it very difficult and he is still coming to terms with the sad loss of Reeva. That is why it will be better for him to be back at training. It will be great to get him back to the track and get some routine. That’s why we are taking it day by day.”

While a return to training might be on the cards for Oscar Pistorius, who holds several IPC World Championship titles over 200 metres, 400m and 4x400m, Peet Van Zyl revealed there is currently no plan regarding his competitive return, if he is invited to compete.

“We haven’t even spoken to him or contemplated him running in a competition,” Peet Van Zyl said.

“He has got to be able to train first and be in some decent form as a world-class athlete before we would allow him to run in a competition.

“If he trains well and his mindset is right then by all means we will look at competitions and options. When that will be we don’t know. It could happen quickly or it could take a year.

“But at the moment, there is no specific date when it comes to him returning to training.

“In the current state he is in he might get up tomorrow and give the coach a phone call and say he might want to train again. He then might not want to train for a few days.

“We are not going to force him. We are going to be guided by him.”

Oscar Pistorius’ family also said: “Oscar is not back on any official training programme.

“This may change in future, but this will be a decision taken by Oscar, and Oscar alone. At this point Oscar is still in an extremely traumatized state and has made it clear to all of us that he is not able or willing to even contemplate this issue at this stage.

“We can confirm that we did have a meeting with Oscar yesterday where various family members and his trainer were present.

“We all encouraged him to get back onto the track to help stabilize him emotionally.

“Oscar has been out running on a number of isolated occasions in the days following the relaxation of his bail conditions, but each time has been very difficult and he has <<struggled immensely>> with the decision to even leave the house.

“As a family however we encourage him to start exercising as we believe it is a vital step in helping him deal with the trauma.”

Peet Van Zyl insisted Oscar Pistorius’ desire to start training again did not show disrespect to the family of Reeva Steenkamp.

“I can’t see there would be any people saying this is disrespectful. This is not disrespectful to Reeva or her family.

“This has been part of his life for so many years. If it makes things easier for him to work through it and get some sense back into his life, let him run and let him jog.

“He’s a human being and that’s maybe an outlet for him.”

Oscar Pistorius denies murder in the Valentine’s Day killing of model Reeva Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for a nighttime intruder in his home.

The athlete’s next scheduled court appearance is June 4, when prosecutors say they intend to serve indictments.

Oscar Pistorius is free to compete in the UK this summer after a judge relaxed his bail terms in March to allow him to make money.

It is certain to prove controversial as it potentially paves the way for Oscar Pistorius, one of the world’s most successful athletes, to earn vast sums of money while he is awaiting trial.

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South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius might consider competing at this year’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow, his agent has told the Associated Press.

Oscar Pistorius, who has run at both the Olympics and Paralympics, is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp but will be allowed to travel abroad after challenging his bail terms.

“If he is up for it and qualifies, the World Championships will definitely be on the radar,” Peet van Zyl told AP.

The 14th World Athletics Championships will be held in Moscow from August 10 to August 18.

Oscar Pistorius might consider competing at this year's World Athletics Championships in Moscow

Oscar Pistorius might consider competing at this year’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow

Oscar Pistorius, 26, nicknamed the Blade Runner because of his prosthetic legs, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot and killed at his home in Pretoria on February 14.

The athlete denies murdering the 29-year-old, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is the body responsible for the World Championships, said Oscar Pistorius would be “free to run” in Moscow in August on the “basis of the<<innocent until proven guilty>> principle”.

“He’s going to be the one that determines running and training,” Oscar Pistorius’s agent added.

“It’s his call. He’s the one under all the pressure for the court case and grieving for Reeva.’’

Oscar Pistorius must meet certain conditions to be allowed to travel abroad. They include providing an itinerary of his plans at least a week before he is due to leave the country.

The South African was one of the star attractions at the 2012 Olympics in London, becoming the first double amputee to run at an Olympics by taking part in both the 400m and 4x100m.

Oscar Pistorius then won gold medals in the T44 400m and T42-46 4x100m at the Paralympics, as well as silver in the T44 200m.

The International Paralympic Committee said it would discuss the matter of Oscar Pistorius competing again following the Easter break.

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Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will be allowed to travel after winning the appeal against the terms of his bail.

His lawyers argued that the South African Olympic and Paralympics champion should be allowed to return to his home and to travel.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, also sought an end to supervision by a probation officer and compulsory drug and alcohol testing.

The athelete denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria last month.

Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp when he mistook her for an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will be allowed to travel after winning the appeal against the terms of his bail

Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will be allowed to travel after winning the appeal against the terms of his bail

The state opposed the application, which was heard at the High Court in Pretoria.

Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, said his client did not need to be in court for this hearing.

The bail conditions were imposed by Magistrate Desmond Nair on February 22 – including restrictions on the athlete travelling abroad.

Oscar Pistorius was ordered to hand over his two South African passports, avoid his home in Pretoria and all witnesses in the case, report to a police station twice a week and to abstain from drinking alcohol.

In the papers before the court on Thursday his lawyers argued that he should be allowed to travel if he is granted permission by the case investigation officer.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, the athlete’s brother, Carl Pistorius, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with the culpable homicide of a female motorcyclist in a 2008 road crash. Carl Pistorius pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again next week.

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Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, are due to challenge his bail conditions at a court hearing.

They will argue that the South African Olympic and Paralympics star should be allowed to return to his home, and to travel.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, also wants an end to supervision by a probation officer and compulsory drug and alcohol testing.

The athlete denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria last month.

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, are due to challenge his bail conditions at a court hearing

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, are due to challenge his bail conditions at a court hearing

Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp when he mistook her for an intruder.

Prosecutors said the state would oppose the application, which is being heard at the High Court in Pretoria.

Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, said his client did not need to be in court for this hearing.

The athlete’s legal team will appeal against some of the bail conditions imposed by Magistrate Desmond Nair on February 22 that include restrictions on him travelling abroad.

Oscar Pistorius was ordered to hand over his two South African passports, avoid his home in Pretoria and all witnesses in the case, report to a police station twice a week and to abstain from drinking alcohol.

In the papers before the court on Thursday Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers argue that he should be allowed to travel if he is granted permission by the case investigation officer.

In an unrelated case, the athlete’s brother, Carl Pistorius, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with the culpable homicide of a female motorcyclist in a 2008 road crash. Carl Pistorius pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again next week.

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Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may be “on the verge of suicide”, according to a close family friend.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, was a “broken man” after rising legal costs forced him to sell his belongings, Mike Azzie said.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Paralympic champion have filed an appeal to ease his bail restrictions.

Oscar Pistorius, who is on trial for shooting model Reeva Steenkamp at his home last month, denies the charges of premeditated murder, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The athlete was released on bail on February 22 and is due to appear in court again in June.

Mike Azzie, who has known the athlete since childhood and has been in regular contact with him, said he was worried about his mental and emotional state.

He said the Paralympian had been forced to sell his racehorses to cover the spiralling legal fees.

“He has no confidence in his tone of voice and he is almost like someone that is walking around in circles and doesn’t know where he is going,” Mike Azzie said in the forthcoming BBC3 documentary, Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened?

“I would say that, just speaking to him, he is a broken man. I would go as far as to say that he could be on the verge of suicide. It really worries me.”

Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may be "on the verge of suicide", according to a close family friend

Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, may be “on the verge of suicide”, according to a close family friend

Mike Azzie added that Oscar Pistorius frequently talked about Reeva Steenkamp and her family.

“He just always seems to mention Reeva and asks us to pray for her and her family,” he said in the interview, due to be broadcast on Monday.

“But most of all, you’ve got to understand that we are there for him and we will always be his friend.”

Police said they were still going through a large number of texts recovered from Reeva Reevenkamp’s mobile phone.

Service providers have been asked to make available all records of phone calls and messages exchanged between the model and Oscar Pistorius on the night of the shooting, police said.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers have sought to ease bail restrictions imposed on Oscar Pistorius, according to papers released by his family on Monday.

The court had ordered Oscar Pistorius to hand over his passport, avoid his home in Pretoria and report to a police station between 07:00 and 13:00 every Monday and Friday.

But his lawyers said the conditions were “unwarranted and not substantiated by the facts”.

Evidence presented at the trial showed Oscar Pistorius was not a flight risk, and should be allowed to travel outside South Africa with official permission, they argued.

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, died after the athlete fired multiple shots into the toilet of his apartment in a gated housing complex in Pretoria on February 14.

Oscar Pistorius bail conditions:

  • Bail set at 1 million rand ($110,000): 100,000 rand in cash up front, and proof that the rest is available
  • Must turn in passports and any guns that he owns
  • Cannot leave Pretoria without permission from probation officer, nor can he return to his home
  • Forbidden to take drugs or drink alcohol
  • Must report to police station between 07:00 and 13:00 every Monday and Friday

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Hilton Botha, the former lead detective in Oscar Pistorius case, has resigned, South African police confirm.

Detective Hilton Botha was dropped from the investigation in February after it emerged that he was facing attempted murder charges in another case.

He has also been heavily criticized for giving contradictory evidence at the bail hearing of Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar Pistorius is accused of killing his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp – a charge he denies.

The athlete says he mistook her for a burglar when he shot her dead on February 14.

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, died after the athlete fired multiple shots into the toilet of his apartment in a gated housing complex in Pretoria.

Hilton Botha, the former lead detective in Oscar Pistorius case, has resigned

Hilton Botha, the former lead detective in Oscar Pistorius case, has resigned

Hilton Botha, the first officer to arrive at the scene of the shooting, was accused of mishandling the investigation after he amended his testimony during fierce questioning by Oscar Pistorius’s defence lawyers in last month’s bail hearing.

It also emerged that the detective was allegedly involved in the shooting of a minibus taxi loaded with passengers two years ago.

The charges against him had originally been dropped but were later reinstated.

Hilton Botha is set to appear in court in May, along with two other officers also accused of opening fire on the taxi.

Police have not commented on the reasons behind Hilton Bopha’s resignation.

Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with premeditated murder, was released on bail on February 22 and is due to appear in court again in June.

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The family of Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has distanced itself from his father’s comments that guns are needed because of high crime levels.

Henke Pistorius told the Daily Mirror newspaper that his son needed guns because of the government’s failure to protect white people.

Reeva Steenkamp died after he fired multiple shots into the toilet of his top floor apartment in a gated housing complex in Pretoria.

Records in South Africa showed the Pistorius family owned 56 guns, the Daily Mirror reports.

“Some of the guns are for hunting and some are for protection, the hand guns. It speaks to the ANC government, look at white crime levels [sic], why protection is so poor in this country, it’s an aspect of our society,” it quotes Henke Pistorius as saying.

Henke Pistorius told the Daily Mirror newspaper that his son needed guns because of the government's failure to protect white people

Henke Pistorius told the Daily Mirror newspaper that his son needed guns because of the government’s failure to protect white people

The family was “deeply concerned” about his comments, the family’s publicist said in a statement, AFP news agency reports.

Family spokesman Arnold Pistorius said “the Pistorius family own weapons purely for sport and hunting purposes”, it reports.

“The comments doesn’t [sic] represent the views of Oscar or the rest of the Pistorius family,” he is quoted as saying.

Critics say the government has not done enough to tackle a surge in violent crime since white minority rule ended in South Africa in 1994.

However, the South African government says crime levels have fallen in recent years.

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Oscar Pistorius’ family said on Tuesday that the athlete held a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at his uncle Arnold’s home in Pretoria, where he has been staying since he was freed on bail.

His family has asked for privacy but confirmation of the memorial service came after a leak in the media, Sky News reported today.

A statement by Oscar Pistorius’ representatives said: “This statement is released in response to a leak to the media regarding a planned private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp.

“Oscar Pistorius, will hold a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at the house of his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, tonight.

“Oscar specifically requested the memorial service as he continues to grieve and remains in deep mourning for the loss of his partner Reeva.

“Since it is such a sensitive issue, Oscar has asked for a private service with people who share his loss, including his family members who knew and loved Reeva as one of their own.

“The Pistorius family would like to make a personal request to the media, to please respect their privacy at their home in Pretoria tonight.”

Oscar Pistorius’ family said on Tuesday that the athlete held a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at his uncle Arnold's home in Pretoria

Oscar Pistorius’ family said on Tuesday that the athlete held a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at his uncle Arnold’s home in Pretoria

Also on Tuesday, it was revealed that Desmond Nair, chief magistrate of the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court who presided over the bail hearing, is in mourning after it is believed one of his relatives killed herself and her children.

The bodies of a woman and her two sons were found on Sunday evening at their Johannesburg home by her ex-husband, police warrant officer Balan Muthan said.

Authorities suspect the woman administered a substance that killed her children, and took her own life by ingesting it as well.

“I can confirm the deceased is my first cousin,” Desmond Nair said.

 

Sky News: Pistorius Holds Private Memorial For Reeva

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Reeva Steenkamp’s family has categorically denied that she was pregnant when Oscar Pistorius shot and killed her.

The National Enquirer reported earlier this week that Reeva Steenkamp told Oscar Pistorius that she was pregnant to placate him after he accused her of cheating on him.

But today family spokesman Mike Steenkamp denied the reports were true and said the model’s mother, June Steenkamp, would have known.

“The post mortem would have revealed if Reeva was pregnant and it did not reveal anything like this. Maybe it comes from the other side, to garner and build up some sort of support for Oscar,” June Steenkamp told Times Live.

Oscar Pistorius claims he killed Reeva Steenkamp accidentally, opening fire after mistaking her for an intruder in his bathroom. But prosecutors say the athlete intentionally shot her in cold blood after the couple had an argument.

The National Enquirer reported on Monday that the argument was sparked by the news that Oscar Pistorius was about to become a father.

A source close to investigation told the Enquirer: “Police believe the preg­nancy secret she revealed is what sent Pistorius over the edge and left her dead, with bullet wounds to the head, chest, pelvis and hand.”

The source added: “Later that night, neighbors com­plained of shouting and fighting coming from the house.

“Police were called to in­vestigate, but it appeared to be just another lover’s spat, so nothing was done except to ask them to quiet down.”

Reeva Steenkamp’s family has categorically denied that she was pregnant when Oscar Pistorius shot and killed her

Reeva Steenkamp’s family has categorically denied that she was pregnant when Oscar Pistorius shot and killed her

It’s the latest lurid claim to hit the case, which has seen numerous sensational allegations in the wake of Reeva Steenkamp’s death. However, it remains unconfirmed in South Africa.

Oscar Pistorius, who had both of his legs amputated below the knee when he was just 11 months old, competed on a set of prosthetic blades, earning him the nickname “blade runner”.

He has competed as a sprinter in each of the Paralympic Summer Games since 2004 until running alongside able-bodied athletes in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

But his days as a runner will be numbered if he’s found guilty of Reeva Steenkamp’s murder.

The National Enquirer: WORLD EXCLUSIVE! BLADE RUNNER¿S GIRLFRIEND WAS PREGNANT!

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CCTV images emerged today appearing to show a smiling Reeva Steenkamp arriving at Oscar Pistorius’ home, just hours before he shot her dead on Valentine’s Day.

The video stills show Reeva Steenkamp, 29, looking happy as she pulled up Oscar Pistorius’ home in Pretoria, according to the respected South African investigative programme Carte Blanche.

Reeva Steenkamp was pictured on a camera pulling into the guarded entrance of the Silver Woods estate in her Mini Cooper car just before 6 p.m. on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day.

The model was seen holding her right hand against her cheek and right eye, and 10 minutes later Oscar Pistorius himself was pictured arriving in his white BMW, but his facial expression could not be seen.

Despite Reeva Steenkamp’s smiles, her ex-flatmate revealed that she felt so “caged in” by an “impatient and moody” Oscar Pistorius in the early days of their relationship that he was forced to tell him to “back off”.

Cyril Myers, whom Reeva Steenkamp lived with in Johannesburg, told South Africa’s City Press that Oscar Pistorius at first seemed polite but then began to start putting pressure on Reeva.

He claimed it got to the point where Cyril Myers had to intervene. He recalled their first date, shortly after she broke up with her former boyfriend.

“She went with Oscar to a sports-awards evening. And after that he wouldn’t leave her alone. He kept pestering her, phoning and phoning and phoning her.

“Oscar was hasty and impatient and very moody – that’s my impression of him. She told me he pushed her a bit into a corner. She felt caged in. I told her I would talk to him.

“I told him not to force himself on her. Back off. He agreed, but his face showed me what he was thinking: <<Oh, this guy is talking nonsense>>. He did cool down a bit.

“Then they started going out steadily, and she was more at his home. I once talked to her about Oscar’s moodiness. She didn’t answer me.”

CCTV images emerged today appearing to show a smiling Reeva Steenkamp arriving at Oscar Pistorius’ home, just hours before he shot her dead on Valentine's Day

CCTV images emerged today appearing to show a smiling Reeva Steenkamp arriving at Oscar Pistorius’ home, just hours before he shot her dead on Valentine’s Day

Oscar Pistorius has been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.

A text from Reeva Steenkamp to Cyril Myers on the night she was shot revealed that she did not intend to stay the night but changed her mind because she did not want to drive home as it was late.

Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he killed her accidentally. He said he opened fire after mistaking Reeva Steemkamp for an intruder in his home.

Meanwhile the brother of Paralympic star, Carl Pistorius, is facing charges over the death of a woman in a car crash in 2010, it emerged today.

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Carl Pistorius, brother of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius – who is accused of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – is also facing trial over the death of a woman.

Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide over the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident, his lawyer said.

The case has no relation to the charges against Oscar Pistorius over the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius – who was released on bail on Friday – denies murder.

The charges against Carl Pistorius over an accident involving his car in which a woman on a motorcycle died date back to 2010 but have only just emerged, local media reports say.

They were confirmed by Pistorius family lawyer Kenneth Oldwage.

The accident took place in the town of Vanderbijlpark, an hour’s drive south of Johannesburg.

Carl Pistorius, brother of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, is also facing trial over the death of a woman

Carl Pistorius, brother of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, is also facing trial over the death of a woman

Police conducted tests on Carl Pistorius and he was found to have no alcohol in his blood at the time.

Carl Pistorius is due in court at the end of March, which means his trial may end before his younger brother Oscar’s is due to begin on June 4.

Carl Pistorius was a constant presence at his brother’s four-day bail hearing.

Oscar Pistorius admits shooting Reeva Steenkamp at his home on Valentine’s Day but denies murder, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

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Oscar Pistorius crushed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s skull with a cricket bat before shooting her dead, police have told her family.

Details of the post-mortem examination of South African model Reeva Steenkamp were withheld from last week’s bail application hearing.

Her family, who saw her body before Tuesday’s cremation in Port Elizabeth described horrific injuries from the cricket bat, and entry wounds from 9mm bullets fired by Oscar Pistorius.

They were also briefed about the model’s death by police and lawyers from the state prosecutor’s office.

In a sworn affidavit read to the bail hearing in Pretoria magistrates’ court last week, Oscar Pistorius claimed that he used the bat to break down the toilet door after the shooting, saying he had not realized his girlfriend was in the bathroom.

The bloodstained bat, which is currently being examined by a police forensics team, will be key evidence when Oscar Pistorius goes on trial for premeditated murder.

Oscar Pistorius – who has previously boasted about having a cricket bat, pistol and machine gun at home to defend himself against intruders – claims the bat became blood-spattered at the scene.

Last week the prosecution did not mention any details about the bat and the role they believe it played in Reeva Steenkamp’s death, opting not to disclose their case against Oscar Pistorius. But to secure bail, Oscar Pistorius’ legal team had to detail his defence, which included why he had a blood-spattered cricket bat in his possession on the fatal night.

The Paralympic athlete claims that during the night he heard a noise in the bathroom and feared it was an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius crushed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s skull with a cricket bat before shooting her dead, police have told her family

Oscar Pistorius crushed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp’s skull with a cricket bat before shooting her dead, police have told her family

Oscar Pistorius, 26, said he felt “vulnerable” without his prosthetic legs, so he got a gun from under his bed and fired through the bathroom door, shouting at the “intruder” to get out of the house and for Reeva Steenkamp to call the police.

At that point Oscar Pistorius thought she was still in bed.

Oscar Pistorius described his “horror and fear” as he realized Reeva Steenkamp was not in the bed, and said he used the bat to break down the toilet door to find Reeva slumped inside the cubicle.

The sprinter said he called paramedics and then carried Reeva Steenkamp, 29, downstairs, trying to revive her, but she died in his arms.

Yesterday, Reeva Steenmkamp’s father Barry Steenkamp said that the athlete would have to “live with his conscience” if he is lying about how he killed her.

Barry Steenkamp told Afrikaans-language newspaper Beeld: “It doesn’t matter how much money he has and how good his team of lawyers is, he must be able to live with his conscience if he allows his team of lawyers to lie on his behalf.

“He will have to live with his conscience. But if he speaks the truth, I can perhaps someday forgive him. If it does not happen as he tells it, he must suffer.”

In another interview, Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June said: “Everything has been taken away from me in such a terrible way. The only thing that matters now is the truth.”

Oscar Pistorius’ family believe him to be innocent, with his father Henke saying he had “zero doubt” that Reeva Steenkamp’s death was a tragic accident. In an earlier interview, Henke Pistorius said: “When you are a sportsman, you act even more on instinct. It’s instinct, things happen and that’s what you do.

“When you wake up in the middle of the night, and crime is so endemic in South Africa, what do you do if somebody is in the house? Do you think it’s one of your family? No, of course you don’t.”

In a statement yesterday Oscar Pistorius’ family said: “Oscar will never be the same  .  .  .  having to live with the knowledge he caused the death of the woman he loved, and that he can never undo the immense pain and loss this has caused Reeva’s family and friends.”

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Barry Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp’s father, has said Oscar Pistorius “will have to live with his conscience” over the killing of his daughter.

Barry Steenkamp was speaking a day after Oscar Pistorius was freed on bail pending his trial.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, admits shooting Reeva Steenkamp, 29, but denies murder, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

“If it didn’t happen the way he says it did he must suffer and he will suffer,” Barry Steenkamp told Beeld newspaper.

“It does not matter how much money he has and how good his legal team is, he will have to live with his conscience,” Barry Steenkamp said.

“But if he speaks the truth, I can perhaps someday forgive him,” he added.

Reeva Steenkamp was a model and law graduate with a burgeoning television career.

The model was shot dead in the toilet of Oscar Pistorius’s home in the early hours of February 14 – Valentine’s Day.

Barry Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp’s father, has said Oscar Pistorius "will have to live with his conscience" over the killing of his daughter

Barry Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp’s father, has said Oscar Pistorius “will have to live with his conscience” over the killing of his daughter

Oscar Pistorius admits firing the shots through a locked door but says he thought he was firing at an intruder, not the woman he says he loved.

The Paralympic champion was released on bail on Friday after eight days in police custody.

A magistrate ruled that the state had not made a case that he would flee, or that he had a violent character.

The next hearing is set for June 4.

Oscar Pistorius is currently staying at his uncle’s house in the upmarket suburb of Waterkloof in Pretoria.

His uncle said the athlete wanted to “reach out” to Reeva Steenkamp’s family.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June told Beeld that she had received a bouquet of flowers from the Pistorius family.

“But what does it mean?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

Oscar Pistorius’ brother, Carl, has tweeted, thanking everyone who has prayed for both families.

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Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has spent his first night out of custody after being granted bail.

At a pre-trial hearing on Friday, a Pretoria magistrate ruled the state had not made a case that the South African Paralympic champion would flee, or that he had a violent character.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, denies murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, thinking she was an intruder at his home.

The next hearing is set for June 4.

Oscar Pistorius spent eight nights in a police cell in Pretoria, following his arrest on February 14. After Friday’s ruling granting him bail, he left the court in a silver car pursued by photographers.

The sprinter is staying at his uncle’s house in Pretoria.

Reports say Oscar Pistorius may start training again and hold talks with his coach.

Magistrate Desmond Nair set bail at 1 million rand ($113,000).

Oscar Pistorius was also ordered to hand over his passport, avoid his home in Pretoria and report to a police station every Monday and Friday.

Desmond Nair took almost two hours to deliver his judgement.

The magistrate criticized the testimony of Detective Hilton Botha for not following up important leads and changing his evidence.

Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has spent his first night out of custody after being granted bail

Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has spent his first night out of custody after being granted bail

Desmond Nair also said Oscar Pistorius had “reached out to meet the state’s case” and had given a full version of events at an early stage.

Oscar Pistorius’ family and supporters in the court gasped and cheered as the magistrate announced his decision.

His uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said outside court: “We are relieved by the fact that Oscar got bail today, but at the same time, we are in mourning for Reeva Steenkamp and her family.”

The hearing began on Tuesday and both prosecution and defence laid out their cases.

Both sides agree that Oscar Pistorius shot through the bathroom door four times, hitting and killing Reeva Steenkamp.

But prosecutors allege the shooting happened after the couple had an argument at Oscar Pistorius’s home in the early hours of February 14.

Det. Hilton Botha told the court that witnesses had heard shouting, screaming and gunfire from about 600 m (2,000 ft) away.

But later he changed his evidence to suggest the witnesses were much closer.

And on Thursday it emerged that Det. Hilton Botha faces allegations of attempted murder, and he was removed from the case.

Oscar Pistorius says he woke in the middle of the night, and thought there was an intruder in the bathroom.

The prosecutors sought to portray Oscar Pistorius as man with a history of violence who was likely to flee the country.

But the defence argued it would be impossible for Oscar Pistorius to flee because his prosthetic legs would be noticed wherever he went.

Reeva Steenkamp was a model and law graduate with a burgeoning television career.

Oscar Pistorius won gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

In London Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics, making the semi-final of the 400 m.

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Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on bail after a lengthy hearing.

South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp thinking she was an intruder at his home.

The prosecution had argued that bail should be refused because there was a risk Oscar Pistorius, 26, would abscond.

Magistrate Desmond Nair said the state had not made a case that he would flee, or that the sprinter had a violent character.

Desmond Nair said that Oscar Pistorius had “reached out to meet the state’s case” at an early stage.

Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on bail after a lengthy hearing

Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on bail after a lengthy hearing

The magistrate took almost two hours to deliver his judgement.

Desmond Nair criticized the testimony of lead detective Hilton Botha, saying he had not followed up important leads and had changed his testimony.

But he also said he had difficulty understanding why Oscar Pistorius had opened fire in the way he did.

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was a model and law graduate with a burgeoning television career.

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Lt. Gen Vinesh Moonoo is to take over the Oscar Pistorius inquiry amid attempted murder accusations against current lead, Detective Hilton Botha.

Detective Hilton Botha was removed pending the result of an investigation into seven counts of attempted murder.

National police commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega announced the change after a third day of testimony at Oscar Pistorius’s bail hearing.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29.

Reeva Steenkamp died after being shot three times at Oscar Pistorius’ home on 14 February.

Mangwashi Phiyega said the police had received feedback from state prosecutors about Det. Hilton Botha only on Wednesday.

She described him as an “experienced detective” who was not yet facing any criminal charges.

However, she said she was using her authority as national police chief to ask Lt. Gen Vinesh Moonoo to take over the Pistorius case.

Vinesh Moonoo is reported to be a veteran of some 30 years service. He will work with the police chief in Gauteng province on a case Mangwashi Phiyega said required attention “at a national level”.

She denied that the decision to replace Det. Hilton Botha was embarrassing for the police.

The claims against Det. Hilton Botha refer to a 2009 incident in which he and several other officers allegedly opened fired on a minibus taxi carrying seven passengers when the driver apparently disobeyed an order to stop.

In court on Thursday, defence and prosecution lawyers offered their final arguments.

The magistrate is expected to issues his ruling on Oscar Pistorius’s bail application on Friday.

Lt. Gen Vinesh Moonoo is to take over the Oscar Pistorius inquiry amid attempted murder accusations against current lead, Detective Hilton Botha

Lt. Gen Vinesh Moonoo is to take over the Oscar Pistorius inquiry amid attempted murder accusations against current lead, Detective Hilton Botha

Lead defence lawyer Barry Roux asked for the charge of premeditated murder to be downgraded, and said Det. Hilton Botha’s contradictory evidence on Wednesday had undermined the prosecution’s case.

Barry Roux said: “The poor quality of the evidence offered by investigative officer Botha exposed the disastrous shortcomings of the state’s case.”

The defence counsel said the fact that Oscar Pistorius had carried Reeva Steenkamp downstairs showed he was desperate to save her life.

On Wednesday, Det. Hilton Botha told the court that the trajectory of gunshots through the bathroom door indicated that Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee, was wearing his prosthetic legs and shot downwards through the door.

This contradicted an earlier account given by Oscar Pistorius, who said he was walking on his stumps and grabbed his gun because he felt vulnerable when he thought an intruder had entered his home.

But Det. Hilton Botha also amended his testimony on the proximity of the witness who he said had heard arguments.

He said police had lost track of ammunition found inside the house, and was also accused of not wearing protective clothing at the crime scene.

The defence also countered police suggestions that testosterone and needles had been found in Oscar Pistorius’s bedroom, arguing instead that the substance was a herbal remedy called Testocompasutium co-enzyme.

On Thursday, prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court that Oscar Pistorius should not be granted bail simply because he is famous.

Gerrie Nel branded Oscar Pistorius as a man “prone to violence” who threatened Reeva Steenkamp and eventually killed her.

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Sportswear giant Nike has decided to suspend its contract with Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

“We believe Oscar Pistorius should be afforded due process and we will continue to monitor the situation closely,” a Nike spokesman said.

Nike recently pulled ads that featured Oscar Pistorius and the line, “I am the bullet in the chamber”.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, also has deals with BT, Oakley, and Ossur, the Icelandic firm that makes his carbon-fibre blades.

Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic champion, denies the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He is in court in South Africa this week to press to be released on bail pending his trial.

On Wednesday, Clarins said that it would no longer run Thierry Mugler ads featuring Oscar Pistorius “out of respect and compassion for the families involved”.

Oscar Pistorius was chosen as the face of the fashion firm’s A*Men fragrance in 2011.

Another of Oscar Pistorius’ sponsors, a South African pay TV channel, pulled its TV ad campaign featuring the athlete recently.

Nike has decided to suspend its contract with Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Nike has decided to suspend its contract with Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius won gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

In London Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics, making the semi-final of the 400m.

Nike was recently forced to end its long relationship with Lance Armstrong, who has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and finally admitted to doping after years of denial.

It recently signed up Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy as a new brand ambassador, making him one of the highest paid sports stars in the world.

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Hilton Botha, the South African detective leading the Oscar Pistorius inquiry, is facing seven charges of attempted murder, police have confirmed.

Detective Hilton Botha, who has faced fierce questioning at Oscar Pistorius’s bail hearing, was allegedly involved in a shooting two years ago.

Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic champion, denies the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29.

His bail hearing in Pretoria is scheduled to resume at 11:00 a.m.

Police spokesman Neville Malila said that Hilton Botha and two other officers were due to appear in court in May.

Neville Malila said it was alleged that while driving a state-owned vehicle the three had opened fire on a minibus taxi loaded with passengers.

The three were arrested in 2011, Eyewitness News says, citing police.

Neville Malila told Reuters news agency the charges against Hilton Botha had originally been dropped but were reinstated on Wednesday by the state prosecutor after the officer had taken the stand.

It is not clear whether Hilton Botha will continue working on the case.

Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the Pistorius prosecutors, told Associated Press they were unaware of the charges and would now investigate whether the detective should remain.

Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp in the bathroom of his home after mistaking her for an intruder.

If denied bail, Oscar Pistorius could face months in prison before a full trial begins.

Correspondents say Det Hilton Botha’s evidence on Wednesday appeared first to boost the prosecution’s case and then offer the defence a hope of winning the argument.

Hilton Botha, the South African detective leading the Oscar Pistorius inquiry, is facing seven charges of attempted murder

Hilton Botha, the South African detective leading the Oscar Pistorius inquiry, is facing seven charges of attempted murder

Det Hilton Botha told the court that the trajectory of gunshots through the bathroom door indicated that Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee, was wearing his prosthetic legs and shot downwards through the door.

This contradicted an earlier account given by Oscar Pistorius, who said he was walking on his stumps and grabbed his gun because he felt vulnerable when he thought an intruder had entered.

The detective then said a witness had said he heard fighting at Oscar Pistorius’s home on the night Reeva Steenkamp was shot.

Det Hilton Botha initially said the witness was some 600 m (1,800 ft) away, but later amended his answer to 300 m after a break for lunch.

Oscar Pistorius’s family said the changes were “extremely concerning”.

The detective was also accused of not wearing protective clothing at the crime scene.

The magistrate appeared to question Det Hilton Botha’s assertion that Oscar Pistorius could be a flight risk who should be denied bail.

The Pistorius family issued a statement saying they were “satisfied with the outcome” of Wednesday’s proceedings.

The magistrate has deemed this a “schedule six” case, meaning Oscar Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder.

His defence team will have to prove the extenuating circumstances that would justify granting bail.

Oscar Pistorius won gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

In London Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics, making the semi-final of the 400 m.

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A South African court heard today that boxes of “steroids, testosterone” and needles were found at Oscar Pistorius’ home where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead after “non-stop” arguing.

The details were revealed by the prosecution on the second day of Oscar Pistorius’ bail hearing at Pretoria Magistrates’ Court where he faces a charge of premeditated murder.

Oscar Pistorius, 26, sobbed with his head lowered as the packed court heard the post-mortem showed three entrance wounds – the bullets hit the right side of Reeva Steenkamp’s head, her right elbow – which resulted in a broken arm – and her hip.

He claimed it was dark when he shot Reeva Steenkamp, but today police claimed a witness heard gunshots, saw the lights on, heard “a female screaming” and then more shots.

Chief investigating officer Hilton Botha told the packed court a separate witness said they heard an hour-long fight between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. before the sound of gunshots rang out.

Hilton Botha said he arrived at the upscale Pretoria house at about 4.15 a.m. last Thursday and Reeva Steenkamp, 29, had already been declared dead – “she had on white shorts and black vest. She was covered in towels”.

Oscar Pistorius, who underwent below-the-knee amputations when he was 11 months old, said he shot through the toilet cubicle door while on his stumps but the court heard the bullets’ trajectory was through the top of the door.

Hilton Botha said he believed the bullets were fired down, suggesting that Oscar Pistorius was wearing his prosthetic legs when the shots were discharged.

Gerrie Nel, the chief prosecutor asked Hilton Botha if the shots were fired directly at the toilet basin and he agreed.

“If you fire straight at the door, you miss the toilet,” he explained.

Hilton Botha said police believe a cricket bat found in the bathroom was used to break down the door to the toilet – part of the door was lying in the bathroom.

He said that one bullet cartridge was found outside bathroom while three others were inside.

On the shower mat in the en-suite bathroom laid a firearm and an iPhone 4 and iPhone – Hilton Botha said four phones in total were found in the athlete’s home and none of them had been used to call emergency services.

The presiding magistrate heard that testosterone and needles were found in Oscar Pistorius’ bedroom.

Boxes of steroids, testosterone and needles were found at Oscar Pistorius' home where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead after non-stop arguing

Boxes of steroids, testosterone and needles were found at Oscar Pistorius’ home where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead after non-stop arguing

The court heard police found a box of .38 calibre ammunition rounds in a bedroom safe for which Oscar Pistorius is not a licence holder – they plan to charge him with possession of unlicensed ammunition.

In the bedroom they found an overnight bag was on a couch on the left hand side of the bed as well as slippers.

Oscar Pistorius has said he had been a victim of crime and received death threats, but today the court heard there were no records of this.

The athlete made notes with a silver pen as the case progressed.

Hilton Botha said he believed Oscar Pistorius, who won two gold medals and a silver at London’s 2012 Paralympic Games, was a flight risk and he was opposing bail.

He told the court Oscar Pistorius has offshore accounts and a property in Italy and said that he saw Pistorius’ family were looking for documents and a specific memory stick with details of offshore accounts.

Discussing extradition he said: “We don’t want another Dewani to happen. We’re still waiting to get him back in the country.”

He was referring to Shrien Dewani who is wanted in South Africa over the honeymoon murder of his wife in November 2010, but is now fighting extradition in Britain.

The defence will have to prove the extenuating circumstances that would justify granting bail so Oscar Pistorius will be free until the trial starts.

It is not expected to begin for at least four months – it would be heard by a judge sitting alongside two assessors – typically magistrates or retired magistrates – as the South Africa legal system does not have a jury system.

At today’s hearing it was claimed Oscar Pistorius was involved in another shooting at a restaurant in Johannesburg in January and asked the gun owner to take responsibility for the incident.

Hilton Botha also told the court of an incident at Kyalami racetrack where Oscar Pistorius allegedly threatened to “f*** up” a man during a row over a girl.

Before recess Oscar  lawyer Barry Roux, one of South Africa’s leading defence lawyers, crossed examined the policeman.

The court gasped and the magistrate was forced to call for order after Barry Roux revealed that the witness who allegedly heard the screaming lived 600 metres away.

Barry Roux said there was no sign of an assault or a struggle on Reeva Steenkamp.

He told the court it was not testosterone, but a herbal remedy discovered in his client’s bedroom.

Barry Roux said a post-mortem examination showed Reeva Steenkamp’s bladder was empty and said that was consistent with her getting up at 3 a.m. to go to the toilet.

He asked repeatedly why the police did not make simple checks – over the lighting and whether Oscar Pistorius had other phones.

The lawyer said Oscar Pistorius phoned the housing complex manager for help at 3.19 a.m. then Netcare hospital a minute later.

Barry Roux said the police discarded anything that might have been consistent with a defence.

Yesterday Oscar Pistorius he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her through the locked door of a toilet in his mansion home.

He said he thought she was in his bed when he opened fire.

“I kicked the door open, I tried to help her but she died in my arms,” he said in his first account of what happened.

Oscar Pistorius sobbed uncontrollably as Barry Roux, read the athlete’s statement to Pretoria magistrate Desmond Nair, asking that he be allowed bail.

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Photos of Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp lay dying after he gunned her down through the door, have emerged today.

The luxurious stone-clad en-suite is now the focus of a murder inquiry as investigators try to piece together what happened in the toilet cubicle where Reeva Steenkamp spent her last moments.

Prosecutors argue the model was trapped in there hiding from Oscar Pistorius, while he claims his girlfriend was using the bathroom after getting up in the night at his upscale Pretoria home.

In a sworn affidavit Oscar Pistorius stated that he thought someone was in the bathroom and shot at them because he “noticed that the bathroom window was open .I realized that the intruder/s was/were in the toilet because the toilet door was closed and I did not see anyone in the bathroom. I heard movement inside the toilet”.

“It filled me with horror and fear of an intruder or intruders being inside the toilet. I thought he or they must have entered through the unprotected window,” he stated.

Prosecutors believe that Oscar Pistorius, picked up his gun, strapped on his prosthetic legs and stood near the large corner bath, before taking aim at the cubicle door.

The athlete shot four times and hit Reeva Steenkamp three times – it is thought she was sitting on the toilet when she was hit in the arm, head, hip and finger by bullets.

The door was broken down – Oscar Pistorius claims he battered it down with a cricket bat to reach his bloodied and dying girlfriend and found her “slumped over but alive”.

The bathroom was the key focus for both the defence and the prosecution at today’s bail hearing at Pretoria magistrates court.

Painting a picture of a premeditated murder prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that Reeva Steenkamp was shot when she took refuge in the bathroom after the couple had been arguing.

“The applicant armed himself, attached his prosthesis, walked seven metres to the bathroom and shot the deceased while she was in the toilet.”

“He shot four times…There’s no possible explanation to support his report that he thought it was a burglar,” he said.

“If I arm myself, walk a distance and murder a person, that is premeditated,” he said.

“The door is closed. There is no doubt. I walk seven metres and I kill.”

“The motive is <<I want to kill>>. That’s it,” he added.

“This deceased was in a 1.4 by 1.14 metre little room. She could go nowhere.”

Photos of Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp lay dying after he gunned her down through the door

Photos of Oscar Pistorius’ bathroom where Reeva Steenkamp lay dying after he gunned her down through the door

Gerrie Nel said the killing was premeditated because Oscar Pistorius had planned to say that he thought he was shooting an intruder.

“It was all part of the pre-planning. Why would a burglar lock himself inside the bathroom?” Gerrie Nel said.

“She locked that door for a purpose. We’ll get to that purpose.

“That is where she was when those shots were fired. She couldn’t go anywhere. It must have been horrific.”

But Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer, Barry Roux, said Reeva Steenkamp was not murdered, and there were a number of cases where men shot members of their own family through doors after mistaking them for burglars.

He also suggested that Oscar Pistorius broke down the bathroom door after the shooting to help his girlfriend.

“We submit it is not even murder,” Barry Roux said.

“There is no concession this is a murder.”

In a sworn affidavit, Oscar Pistorius, who broke down in tears on several occasions, said the pair were in bed together when he woke up and went onto a balcony to bring a fan inside.

On his return to the bedroom he said he heard a noise and thought an intruder had broken in through his bathroom window.

Oscar Pistorius claimed he was too scared to switch a light on, so he grabbed his 9mm pistol – which he kept under his bed after receiving death threats – and walked towards the bathroom, which contains a toilet with a separate door.

“On my way to the bathroom I screamed words to the effect for him/them to get out of my house and for Reeva to phone the police. It was pitch dark in the bedroom and I thought Reeva was in bed,” he said.

“I believed that when the intruder/s came out of the toilet we would be in grave danger. I felt trapped as my bedroom door was locked and I have limited mobility on my stumps.

“I fired shots at the toilet door and shouted to Reeva to phone the police. She did not respond and I moved backwards out of the bathroom, keeping my eyes on the bathroom entrance. Everything was pitch dark in the bedroom and I was still too scared to switch on a light. Reeva was not responding.

“When I reached the bed, I realized that Reeva was not in bed. That is when it dawned on me that it could have been Reeva who was in the toilet. I returned to the bathroom calling her name. I tried to open the toilet door but it was locked. I rushed back into the bedroom and opened the sliding door exiting onto the balcony and screamed for help.”

According to Oscar Pistorius he then smashed his way into the toilet using a cricket bat, finding her “slumped over but alive”.

The athlete then phoned for an ambulance and carried her downstairs, but she died in his arms.

The defendant said he was “absolutely mortified” by what had happened, but insisted the evidence would prove his innocence.

Although no decision was made on bail today, the judge did rule that the charge would be premeditated murder indicating Oscar Pistorius, who last year became the first double-amputee track athlete to run at the Olympics, is likely to remain behind bars until trial.

He has now been driven back to jail where he will spend a sixth night behind bars before the hearing resumes in the morning.

As Oscar Pistorius’s relatives supported him in court, the distraught family of Reeva Steenkamp attended her funeral in Port Elizabeth.

Her brother Adam said that her death had “left space missing inside all of the people that she knew”.

But there was also anger. Gavin Venter, an ex-jockey who worked for Reeva Steenkamp’s father, called for the harshest of sentences for Oscar Pistorius.

“Without a doubt. He must stay in jail,” he said.