PRETORIA, South Africa, Feb. 22 (UPI) — A South African judge was widely expected to rule Friday on whether Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend, can be freed on bail.
Pistorius, 26, denies premeditated murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, a model and law school graduate, in the bathroom Feb. 14 thinking she was an intruder in his home.
The prosecution argues Pistorius may flee and should be refused bail.
The defense says confused testimony given by a detective who was later removed from the case has undermined the prosecution’s case.
Police Thursday replaced lead investigator Detective Hilton Botha after announcing he was charged with seven counts of attempted murder in a separate episode in which he and two other officers allegedly fired at seven passengers in a minivan while drunk.
Botha denies the charges and says he fired at the minivan’s tires.
Divisional police commissioner Lt. Gen. Vinesh Moonoo is now in charge of the Pistorius case, which national police Commissioner Riah Phiyega called a “very important investigation.”
During the third day of Pistorius’ bail hearing Thursday, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said even if Pistorius’ version of the events is true, the shooting was planned.
“He fired four shots, not one. The only reason you fire four shots is to kill,” Nel said.
He added that by seeking bail, Pistorius was playing down the gravity of the claims against him.
“I am astounded by the total lack of insight of the seriousness of what’s happened,” he told Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair. “This total lack of insight and willingness to take responsibility for his deeds increases his flight risk.”
Defense attorney Barry Roux said the allegations against Botha and “the poor quality of evidence” Botha presented during testimony Wednesday “exposed the disastrous shortcomings in the state’s case.”
Nair asked Roux if he thought releasing Pistorius would create “some level of shock.”
Roux said, “I think there will be a level of shock in this country if he is not released.”
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