SOUTH AFRICA POLICE have appointed a new lead investigator to the probe into the death of Reeva Steenkamp.

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands accused of pre-meditated murder in relation to the fatal shooting of his 29-year-old model and law graduate girlfriend on 14 February.

Officer Hilton Botha was removed from the top job after the DPP reinstated attempted murder charges against him in recent days.

“We recognise the significance, the importance… and the severity of the matter,” police commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega said, announcing that the case had been assigned to a lieutenant general.

It is understood that Botha will no longer lead the investigation but could still be involved as he has not been suspended.

The force has been criticised in South Africa, accused of “bungling” the case against Pistorius. Earlier today it emerged that investigators are yet to receive the telephone records of both the suspect and the victim in the inquiry.

Pistorius’s lawyers were also able to poke holes in many of the prosecution’s arguments in court over the past three days because of perceived police shortcomings.

The bail hearing was adjourned this afternoon, meaning it will stretch into a fourth day. Proceedings resume at 8am Irish time Friday.