Lead detective in Pistorius case dropped, faces murder charges
Source: Agencies |
February 22, 2013, Friday
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SOUTH Africa's police head appointed the country's "top detective" as the new lead investigator in the Oscar Pistorius murder case.
The decision came after it emerged the initial investigator, Hilton Botha, was facing attempted murder charges.
National Commissioner Riah Phiyega said Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation.
Phiyega said the Pistorius case "shall receive attention at the national level" and Moonoo will "gather a team of highly skilled and experience detectives."
She added Moonoo is the country's "top detective."
Botha's future in charge of the investigation into world-famous athlete Pistorius came into doubt after seven attempted murder charges were reinstated against him in relation to a 2011 shooting incident, when he and two other police officers allegedly fired shots at a minibus full of passengers.
Botha has not been suspended, reports said.
Charges against Botha over the 2011 shooting were dropped but the National Prosecuting Authority said they were reinstated on February 4, 10 days before Pistorius allegedly shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
"The decision to reinstate was taken on February 4, way before the issue of Pistorius came to light or the murder of Reeva was committed," NPA spokesman Medupe Simasiku said. "It's completely unrelated to this trial."
Phiyega said she did not know why the charges were reinstated.
It is also unclear how the latest twist in Pistorius's dramatic four-day bail hearing will affect the athlete's chances of securing release from custody pending his trial.
At the time of the minibus shooting, Botha, who has 24 years as a detective on the force, was chasing a man accused of murdering a woman, local media said.
Pistorius, a double amputee dubbed "Blade Runner" because of his carbon fibre racing blades, faces life in prison if convicted of the premeditated murder of Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day.
Meanwhile, sportswear giant Nike froze its contract with Pistorius yesterday saying the athlete should be "afforded due process."
Other companies with sponsorship deals, including British telecoms firm BT, US sunglasses maker Oakley and French designer Thierry Mugler, have declined to comment on their contracts while Pistorius' bail hearing is taking place.
The revelations about Botha capped a troubling 24 hours for the prosecution service.
Under cross-examination at the hearing on Wednesday, Botha was accused of contaminating the crime scene in Pistorius's house and had to backtrack on details such as the distance of witnesses from the athlete's home.
The decision came after it emerged the initial investigator, Hilton Botha, was facing attempted murder charges.
National Commissioner Riah Phiyega said Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation.
Phiyega said the Pistorius case "shall receive attention at the national level" and Moonoo will "gather a team of highly skilled and experience detectives."
She added Moonoo is the country's "top detective."
Botha's future in charge of the investigation into world-famous athlete Pistorius came into doubt after seven attempted murder charges were reinstated against him in relation to a 2011 shooting incident, when he and two other police officers allegedly fired shots at a minibus full of passengers.
Botha has not been suspended, reports said.
Charges against Botha over the 2011 shooting were dropped but the National Prosecuting Authority said they were reinstated on February 4, 10 days before Pistorius allegedly shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
"The decision to reinstate was taken on February 4, way before the issue of Pistorius came to light or the murder of Reeva was committed," NPA spokesman Medupe Simasiku said. "It's completely unrelated to this trial."
Phiyega said she did not know why the charges were reinstated.
It is also unclear how the latest twist in Pistorius's dramatic four-day bail hearing will affect the athlete's chances of securing release from custody pending his trial.
At the time of the minibus shooting, Botha, who has 24 years as a detective on the force, was chasing a man accused of murdering a woman, local media said.
Pistorius, a double amputee dubbed "Blade Runner" because of his carbon fibre racing blades, faces life in prison if convicted of the premeditated murder of Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day.
Meanwhile, sportswear giant Nike froze its contract with Pistorius yesterday saying the athlete should be "afforded due process."
Other companies with sponsorship deals, including British telecoms firm BT, US sunglasses maker Oakley and French designer Thierry Mugler, have declined to comment on their contracts while Pistorius' bail hearing is taking place.
The revelations about Botha capped a troubling 24 hours for the prosecution service.
Under cross-examination at the hearing on Wednesday, Botha was accused of contaminating the crime scene in Pistorius's house and had to backtrack on details such as the distance of witnesses from the athlete's home.
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