Investigating Officer of Pistorius Case has an Attempted Murder Charge Pending
Investigating officer Hilton Botha, the lead detective in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, sits in court during a break in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrates court, February 21, 2013. “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, was applying for bail after being charged in court with shooting dead his girlfriend, 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp, in his Pretoria house. Botha is himself facing attempted murder charges for firing on a minibus full of passengers, South African police said on Thursday. Botha, who took the stand against Pistorius at the Paralympic and Olympic track star’s bail hearing earlier this week, is due to appear in court in May over the 2011 shooting incident, police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA – Tags: CRIME LAW SPORT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) – RTR3E2C0
In South Africa, the murder case against track star Oscar Pistorius took an unexpected turn Thursday.
It turns out, the lead detective in the case is himself facing seven charges of attempted murder.
They stem from an incident two years ago.
Detective Hilton Botha and two other officers were pursing a suspect who was fleeing in a minivan taxi.
The van attempted to push the officers off the road, and the officers fired.
Each passenger pressed charges.
Botha has now been removed from the Pistorius case.
South African criminologist Laurie James doesn’t think that will hurt the prosecution’s case.
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