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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPistorius Investigating Officer Hilton Botha Faces “Seven Counts Of Attempted Murder”
According to South Africa's Eyewitness News, Hilton Botha, lead investigator in the Oscar Pistorius shooting, was allegedly involved in a drunken shooting incident with three other police officers in 2011.
It is alleged the three law enforcement officials were drunk while driving a state vehicle when they opened fire on a mini-bus taxi loaded with passengers. They were arrested in 2011.
Police have confirmed Botha was arrested for the shooting. The charges were initially dropped, but have since been reinstated. Police spokesperson Neville Malila said "There was a decision taken by the DPP's office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi."
We told you Monday morning that Botha had a rough day at the bail hearing as he stumbled and backtracked while under cross examination by Oscar Pistorius's attorney. His credibility took a hit Wednesday and it may be gone entirely by the time the hearing resumes Thursday.
Update, 1:13 a.m.: Karyn Maughan, a legal reporter for eNCA appears to have conducted an interview with Botha where he addresses the reports he stands accused of attempted murder. The case was withdrawn in 2009 and just reinstated yesterday, Botha suspects because of his work on the Pistorius case. Botha claims his blood was never tested for alcohol and he says he was not drunk. He was pursuing the taxi in connection with another murder case he was working on and the taxi tried to run he and his fellow officers off the road, so they opened fire.
http://deadspin.com/5985833/report-pistorius-investigating-office-hilton-botha-faces-seven-counts-of-attempted-murder
This investigation is and was so effed by the police.
Botha walked through the crime scene with no coverings to prevent contamination. The defense then found a projectile left behind in the toilet bowl.
South Africa's OJ moment as far as handling this case. Botha was pathetic when cross-examined.
The magistrate may even reduce this to a Schedule 5 for bail which is much less severe.
I don't know if they have or will gather enough evidence and present it cogently after reading all of this mishegas.
@AntDeRosa: "Police plan to keep him on the Pistorius murder case despite the charges" whattttttt?
cali
(114,904 posts)but the Prosecution seems to have been screwing up their case.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-21/pistorius-investigating-cop-on-seven-attempted-murder-charges/4532724
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Botha was summoned into chambers by the judge. Proceedings have been halted.
This is FUBAR SNAFU.
cali
(114,904 posts)Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)A little late, but good!
sendero
(28,552 posts)... to not get a conviction on this one. Even without Botha the evidence is pretty damning to me.
I'm not buying Oscar's story for a single second.
Mason Kennedy
(62 posts)A few minutes after it was learned that Botha is facing those charges, the prosecutor joked, "
9.40am
Our reporter Lucy Thornton, in court C today, just spotted Pistorius's defence lawyer Barry Roux drop his briefcase.
He laughed and joked: "There goes my case!"
9.33am
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel says that he and his team became aware yesterday that investigating officer Hilton Botha was facing seven counts of attempted murder.
He says they were not aware of this when they called him as a witness.
Magistrate Nair wants to know where Botha is - Nel informs him that Botha is in the court building but did not wish to be in the courtroom.
By the way, you can't say "even without Botha" because Botha is the person who gathered the evidence. There's no such thing as "even without Botha." He's been lying about what substance was found; he said neighbors living 600 yards away from the house heard shouting (then he changed it to 300 yards).
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/oscar-pistorius-bail-hearing-live-1721769
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)Mason Kennedy
(62 posts)You're joking, right?
Perhaps your post was blank because you didn't know how to explain how the comment wasn't pessimistic.
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)As a joke, when he dropped his briefcase.
wtf
Our reporter Lucy Thornton, in court C today, just spotted Pistorius's defence lawyer Barry Roux drop his briefcase.
He laughed and joked: "There goes my case!"
Not even a good try.
Mason Kennedy
(62 posts)"When the adjournment was called, prosecutor Gerrie Nel wryly commented "there goes my case".
Game, set. match.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/oscar-pistorius-back-in-court-as-lead-detective-hilton-botha-is-dropped-from-case-over-attempted-murder-charges/story-fnat7jnn-1226583022744
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)Very interesting, since I blockquoted your post. So, you are admitting that what you posted was inaccurate and misleading. Gotcha.
And, the Prosecutor admitted no such thing. He said it "wryly," ie humorously.
Having fun this morning, aren't you? Sorry I can't play anymore, as I have to work.
Mason Kennedy
(62 posts)Sorry about proving you wrong so many times: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/oscar-pistorius-hilton-botha-attempted-murder
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)And, why did you post the wrong thing, about Roux and his briefcase, in YOUR post? And you did it as a direct quote.
Tsk tsk tsk.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)malaise
(269,187 posts)In reality RSA's white athletes are gods so expect nothing but support for this entitled prick from sections of that quintessentially misogynistic country.
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)And, Oscar isn't the Golden Boy he is to the rest of the world. However, SA is sports mad, even worse than here.
Mason Kennedy
(62 posts)Thanks for the probabilistic analysis conducted by "friends in SA".