Oscar cops accused of scene contamination

REUTERS

Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee, brother Carl and father Henke await the start of court proceedings in the Pretoria Magistrates court. Photo: Reuters

Pretoria - Oscar Pistorius' defence lawyer accused the police of contaminating the scene while investigating the shooting of Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, during his bail application at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha was accused of walking without protected shoe covers in Pistorius' house in Pretoria.

Botha said he should have worn them, “but they were not around”.

Roux again asked Botha if there was nothing in Pistorius' statement that was inconsistent with the scene.

“Yes at this stage,” said Botha.

Pistorius was previously arrested for an assault at his home a police officer testifying at the star sprinter's bail hearing.

"There was an incident at his house where he was arrested for assault I think," said officer Hilton Botha. "I can't remember the exact date or time," adding Pistorius was not charged.

Roux also denied that Pistorius had a house in Italy, as claimed by the State, submitted to support its claim that he was a flight risk earlier.

However, he did have a bank account in Carolina in the US.

A news report that a firearm athlete Oscar Pistorius was handling went off at a restaurant in Johannesburg was confirmed.

His lawyer advocate Barry Roux said a firearm was passed to him at a restaurant and it went off.

“The witnesses said that he pulled the trigger,” said Hilton Botha, investigating officer.

Roux said it happened under a table and asked how anyone could know who pulled the trigger.

Magistrate Desmond Nair asked Roux: “You conceded the shot went off when the gun was under the table?”

He agreed with this.

This information was presented in Pistorius's bail application which the State is opposing.

Pistorius has been charged with murdering Steenkamp, which he denies. - Sapa