Pistorius lead detective faces attempted murder charges

Pretoria, Feb 21 (AFP) The lead detective in the murder case against Oscar Pistorius is himself facing attempted murder charges, police announced today, dealing a further blow to the prosecution's case against the star sprinter.
Police made the sensational announcement as Pistorius arrived for a third day of a bail hearing over the Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, which prosecutors say was a premeditated killing and defence argues was an accident.
Lead detective Hilton Botha, whose testimony was challenged by defence attorneys on Wednesday, is facing seven attempted murder charges for shooting at a minibus taxi in 2009, police said.

"We were only informed yesterday that attempted murder charges against Hilton Botha have been reinstated," police spokesman Neville Malila told AFP, referring to the detective leading the investigation against Pistorius.
Pistorius's lawyers tore into Botha's police work during Wednesday's hearing, undermining his witnesses and forcing him to agree that the Olympian's version of events fitted the crime scene.
"It sounds consistent," Botha, a prosecution witness, told the court.

Pistorius vehemently denies the premeditated murder charges against him, claiming he mistook the 29-year-old covergirl for an intruder.
Despite gaining the upper hand on Wednesday, Pistorius's team still needs to give compelling reasons why he should be freed pending his trial, after having spent a week in detention already.

Charged with "premeditated murder", he has to prove exceptional circumstances that his release is in the interest of justice -- a high bar for bail.
Lawyers for both sides are expected to wrap up arguments for bail on Thursday.