Police 'Fury' Over Pistorious Watches

 

 Two of Oscar Pistorius's watches went missing from the crime scene, a former South African police officer told the athlete's murder trial.

After returning to the main bedroom where a team of forensic experts was gathering evidence, he realised one watch, said to be worth as much as $10,000 (£6,000) was missing. He said he was told Mr Pistorius' sister Aimee had come into the room and removed it.

After leaving the room again, another watch went missing, so he gave instructions for the police officers and their cars to be searched.

Col Van Rensburg said that after that, everyone entering and leaving the scene was thoroughly searched and entered into a log, presented in court.

He described his stunned reaction to the watches' disappearance: "I said: 'I can't believe it. We were just there. How can this watch be gone?'"

 
He said he told Mr Pistorius he should file a complaint, while he opened a case of theft.

The former officer, who retired last year, also told the court he was angry when he saw a ballistics expert handling Mr Pistorius' 9mm pistol without any gloves, and told him to put some on.

The admissions call into question the police's handling of the crime scene, in a case that is likely to hinge on sensitive forensic evidence, correspondents say.