Former Police Commander Aids Pistorius Defense

A police commander on the scene the night that Oscar Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp testified against the Paralympian at the Pretoria High Court on Friday.

However, according to a report on CNN, former Col. G.S. van Rensburg may have inadvertently assisted the defense to "discredit police handling of evidence" against Pistorius.

Van Rensburg told the court that a ballistics expert who handled the Olympian's gun did so without gloves. He also testified a watch belonging to Pistorius was stolen from the double-amputee's bedroom during the initial police search of his house.

CNN reporters Richard Allen Greene and Ben Brumfield say the key testimony concerns Pistorius' bathroom door, which van Rensburg called the "most valuable piece of evidence in the case."

The former commander admitted to removing Pistorius' bathroom door from the crime scene, putting it in a body bag and taking it to his office. Van Rensburg later resigned from the police force after accusations surfaced that the commander "mishandled evidence" by keeping the door in his office.

Defense attorney Barry Roux argues that in light of van Rensburg's actions, Pistorius' bathroom door is contaminated evidence.

Pistorius is charged with the premeditated murder of his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.The Olympian says he thought she was an intruder in his Johannesburg home.

On March 3, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing.

If convicted, Pistorius faces 25 years in jail.

Written byNicole Bennett

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