Oscar Pistorius: Hilton Botha and the troubling case of Denise Stratford’s murder
WHO’D be Detective Hilton Botha? Having ben subjected to a grilling by Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer Barry Roux, we learn that the copper is scheduled to answer an attempted murder charge in May. He and two other officers are accused of opening fire on a minibus taxi loaded with passengers. They were arrested in 2011.
It is alleged that they were drunk and driving a State vehicle.
Botha and his colleague had been investigating the murder of Denise Stratford, 55, whose body had been found stuffed in a drain in the Mooikloof industrial park in Pretoria East, in November 2011.
Later that month a 23-year-old security guard was arrested in connection with that murder. Stratford’s car was stolen. She was shot dead. But there have been no convictions.
Brandon Stratford is dENsie Stratford’s son. He notes:
How the fuck can Hilton Botha be in hot water when they where in pursue of the second suspect in my moms murder trial!! The man was doing his work!! Lawyers like digging up dirt, yet they don’t find out the truth first. New can of worms!!
The charges against Botha were originally dropped. But now they’ve been opened anew. Why now? Botha says Pistorius should not get bail. Presumably, Botha was bailed. In the court of public opinion, the trial of a national hero is being muddied.
Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the Pistorius prosecutors, told Associated Press his side were unaware of the charges and would now investigate whether the detective should remain on the case.
Neville Malila, a police spokesperson, said:
“There was a decision taken by the DPP’s (Director of Public Prosecutions) office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi.”
Says Botha:
“I don’t understand why the case was reinstated yesterday. I can only think this is linked to my work on Oscar Pistorius.”
Reeva Steenkamp is dead.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 21st, February 2013 | In: Reviews, Sports Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
