Pistorius family use website for court updates

JOHANNESBURG - Agence France-Presse

"Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during a break in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrates court February 20, 2013. REUTERS photo

The family of disgraced Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius has devoted his official website to updates about his bail hearing and messages of support, his PR agency said Thursday.
 
"We will issue at least two statements a day, in order to provide the media with the freshest news, taking into account the time differences," said Janine Hills, the chief executive of Vuma corporate reputation management.
 
The homepage www.oscarpistorius.com no longer has images of the athlete in branded sports clothing by his sponsors.
 
This week, Nike and sunglasses maker Oakley cut ties with the 26-year-old double amputee, after he was charged with murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.

Officer in Pistorius case facing 7 attempted murder charges: police

The lead detective in the Oscar Pistorius murder case is himself facing seven attempted murder charges for shooting at a taxi in 2009 to try to stop it, police said Thursday.

"We were only informed yesterday that attempted murders charges against Hilton Botha have been reinstated," said police spokesman Neville Malila.
 
Malila said the charges were initially brought against investigating officer Botha in 2009, but later withdrawn. It is not clear whether he will continue working on the case.
 
On Wednesday, Botha's evidence came under scrutiny from Pistorius' defence team, forcing him to admit to multiple errors in the case, including not wearing protective clothing when attending to the athlete's house, where the shooting happened.
 
Under cross-examination, Botha was forced to admit that Pistorius's version of the early morning shooting last Thursday fitted the crime scene, weakening the state's claim that the killing was premeditated.