A top cop in the Oscar Pistorius murder case has quit after it was revealed a key piece of evidence was kept in his office instead of being in a secure, tamper-proof room.
In another embarrassment for the South African police, Boschkop police station commander Colonel Schoombie van Rensburg handed in his notice after yet another bungle of the crime scene at the Blade Runner’s house after the February 14 shooting.
The door through which the Paralympian, 27 , killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was removed from his Pretoria mansion the day after the alleged murder.
But a Boschkop police source said: “Records show it was booked into the storeroom, but it was kept inside Van Rensburg’s office.
“It was actually lying on the floor in front of his desk and only taken away about a week later.”
The officer said almost anyone in the police station had access to Van Rensburg’s office, from where other detectives would send faxes and made phone calls.
Van Rensburg, who has been in the force for more than 30 years, denied his resignation had anything to do with the case, saying he was leaving to pursue “business interests”.
He is the second top cop in the case to quit.
The first detective in charge, Hilton Botha, has already left the force over the mistakes that have plagued the case.
He was mauled in court by Pistorius’ defence team during a week-long bail hearing after admitting walking through the crime scene without protective footwear, potentially contaminating crucial evidence.
And his force later confirmed Botha had seven attempted murder charges pending. In 2011, he allegedly opened fire at a minibus while trying to stop the vehicle. Seven people were in the taxi at the time.
Botha was investigated at the time and the case against him was dropped. But it was resurrected days after Pistorius was arrested.
Botha told the Mirror at the time: “This is crazy.”
Pistorius is due to stand trial for murder of Miss Steenkamp, 29, in March. He claims he shot through the closed bathroom door thinking a burglar was hiding inside and that his model girlfriend was in bed at the time.
but it's fucking retarded how anyone can be a cop and if they fuck up people have their backs. they should have to face the penalties like us, its fucking murder if you kill an unarmed man, 0.
Comments
In another embarrassment for the South African police, Boschkop police station commander Colonel Schoombie van Rensburg handed in his notice after yet another bungle of the crime scene at the Blade Runner’s house after the February 14 shooting.
The door through which the Paralympian, 27 , killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was removed from his Pretoria mansion the day after the alleged murder.
But a Boschkop police source said: “Records show it was booked into the storeroom, but it was kept inside Van Rensburg’s office.
“It was actually lying on the floor in front of his desk and only taken away about a week later.”
The officer said almost anyone in the police station had access to Van Rensburg’s office, from where other detectives would send faxes and made phone calls.
Van Rensburg, who has been in the force for more than 30 years, denied his resignation had anything to do with the case, saying he was leaving to pursue “business interests”.
He is the second top cop in the case to quit.
The first detective in charge, Hilton Botha, has already left the force over the mistakes that have plagued the case.
He was mauled in court by Pistorius’ defence team during a week-long bail hearing after admitting walking through the crime scene without protective footwear, potentially contaminating crucial evidence.
And his force later confirmed Botha had seven attempted murder charges pending. In 2011, he allegedly opened fire at a minibus while trying to stop the vehicle. Seven people were in the taxi at the time.
Botha was investigated at the time and the case against him was dropped. But it was resurrected days after Pistorius was arrested.
Botha told the Mirror at the time: “This is crazy.”
Pistorius is due to stand trial for murder of Miss Steenkamp, 29, in March. He claims he shot through the closed bathroom door thinking a burglar was hiding inside and that his model girlfriend was in bed at the time.
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but it's fucking retarded how anyone can be a cop and if they fuck up people have their backs. they should have to face the penalties like us, its fucking murder if you kill an unarmed man, 0.