South African Investigator Faces His Own Attempted Murder Charge, Removed from Pistorius' Case

Hilton Botha is no longer investigating a charge of premeditated murder against Oscar Pistorius due to an attempted murder charge Botha is facing himself alledgedly shooting at a minivan, according to the Associated Press. ESPN reports that Pistorius’ family appeared more confident and “even smiling” in court today as the bombshell threatened to undermine the case being built by the prosecutiion.

Pistorius is pictured here with Reeva Steenkamp, who Pistorius said he shot to death on Valentines Day because he thought she was an intruder.

Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo will take over the investigation from Hilton, according to National Commissioner Riah Phiyega. Moonoo is the country’s top detective.

The charges were made against Botha over a 2011 incident in which Botha and two other officers allegedly fired at the minivan. The attempted murder charges were dropped, but later reinstated.

The case “shall receive attention at the national level” and Moonoo will “gather a team of highly skilled and experience detectives.”, Phiyega told the Associated Press.