Lead detective taken off Pistorius case

By Morning Express with Robin Meade staff

updated 11:19 AM EST, Thu February 21, 2013

NEED TO KNOW

Hilton Botha faces attempted murder charges
Botha had testified in Pistorius' bail hearing

South African investigating officer Hilton Botha attends the bail hearing of South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria.

A new lead detective has been assigned to the Oscar Pistorius case as Hilton Botha now faces attempted murder charges.

Botha, who testified in Pistorius' bail hearing, is among a group of officers accused of shooting at a van they were chasing a few years ago. They were allegedly drunk at the time, and were all charged with seven counts of attempted murder.

CNN reports that those charges were "provisionally withdrawn," after all the officers appeared in court. However, the Director of Public Prosecution reinstated them yesterday. Botha denies being drunk at the time of the shootings.

Pistorius is charged with premediated murder in the shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius said he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder and her shooting was an accident.

KEEP READING: Tearful Pistorius: 'I had no intention to kill my girlfriend'

Morning Express with Robin Meade airs Monday through Friday at 6 a.m. ET on HLN. Like the show on Facebook, follow on Twitter: @MorningExp.

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