• Oscar Pistorius case

Lead detective dropped from Pistorius case

ESPN staff
February 21, 2013
Hilton Botha has been dropped from the investigation into the death of Reeva Steenkamp at Oscar Pistorius' house © AP
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The lead detective in Oscar Pistorius' murder case has been dropped from the investigation after it was revealed he is facing attempted murder charges.

Hilton Botha, who took the stand on day two of Pistorius' bail hearing and was involved in an intense cross-examination, is due to appear in court in May over charges for opening fire at a minibus containing seven people.

"Botha and two other policemen allegedly tried to stop a mini bus taxi with seven people. They fired shots," police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila told Reuters.

The charges were provisionally withdrawn, but were reinstated on Wednesday - at the behest of the state prosecutor, Malila added.

Malila did add that there were no plans to withdraw Botha from the case, but South African police have since moved to replace him.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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