Pistorius cop faces attempted murder charge

The investigating officer in the Oscar Pistorius murder case has seven charges of attempted murder against him, the police confirmed on Thursday.

"Yes. It is one case with seven charges of attempted murder," said Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila.

He said detective Hilton Botha was first charged back in 2009 but the charges were then provisionally withdrawn. The matter was then referred to the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

"It was only yesterday [Wednesday] that we were informed by the DPP that he is being charged," he said.

Malila said Botha allegedly fired shots at a combi as he tried to stop it. The combi had seven occupants in it.

Botha is the investigating officer in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, who was allegedly killed by paralympian Pistorius on Valentines Day.

He has already testified against Pistorius in a bid for the court not to grant him bail.

-SAPA