Pistorius cop: We did the best we could

2013-03-08 12:06

Johannesburg - The former lead investigator in the murder case against paralympian Oscar Pistorius believes police management could have assisted in the case a lot sooner, it was reported on Friday.

"Right from the beginning they knew how serious and high profile this case was," Hilton Botha told The Times.

"They could have helped a lot earlier than they did.... Having a senior general on the case would have seen things being done and reports completed a lot sooner."

Botha resigned from the SA Police Service after being booted off the Pistorius investigation.

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega removed him after it emerged that attempted murder charges against him were being reinstated.

Pressure

Botha said he did not need the pressure in his life and would now become a loss-control manager and head of security at a Pretoria company.

"Everything I did was above board and in line with the best international policing practices," Botha was quoted as saying. "We worked with what we had and did the best we could."

At the Pistorius bail hearing, advocate Barry Roux tried to force Botha to admit that he bungled his initial investigation.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Neville Malila dismissed Botha's assertions that he was not given assistance.

"He was given the case because he had the necessary skills and experience."

Pistorius is accused of killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.

- SAPA