Botha: I'm just going to bullet through it.
The interview is actually given by his wife as he was at the same time giving an "exclusive" interview to US Vanity Fair.
He resigned from the police force after 24 years service and is now working for New Century Developments. She talks about the huge amount of criticism he has come under. Some are saying he was paid R1million to make the mistakes on the stand and that the Pistorius family helped him find his new job as AP is a huge player in the property development industry.
Many wondered why he chose to testify in English but he believed he could express himself well enough in English for a bail application but it turned out he couldn't and said he would never give evidence in English again.
There is no friendship between Hilton and OP. they had only met once before Reevas death in the cells at the police station when OP was arrested in 2009 for the assault charge. Hilton took him out the cells because he felt that Oscar had been locked up unfairly and he could see the girl only had a scratch on her knee, not even a bruise. Hilton is always fair to the best of his ability. After that 2009 incident, he saw OP again for the second time on 14th Feb.
Hilton removed the door from the house for safe keeping because of the amounts of money being offered for pictures of it. Carl found Hilton walking about the house 3 days after the murder when he arrived to give Hilton copies of the plans of the house and asked him why he was corrupting the scene because he was not wearing protective gear. He hadn't worn protective gear from the start because he didn't think it was necessary. Its essential when looking for DNA but OP acknowledged firing the shots and Reeva died at the scene.
Hilton was not given the opportunity to finish his sentence when asked about the accuracy of OP statement, he wanted to say " it's possible but highly unlikely"
About getting the cell records etc, he is only a warrant officer and would never get cell records etc in 3 days, blames the circumstances under which he works. He estimated and didn't measure distances for the ear witnesses. The bail application was heard too soon after the shooting and there was not enough time. Although police worked from early morning valentines day until late every night, much of the evidence was hearsay and he didn't want to be too specific with information.
Hilton couldn't understand why the attempted murder case was reopened against him, the case had already been withdrawn, his bail repaid and his passport returned. The night after his first appearance on the stand, someone phoned him out the blue to say it was being re investigated again. *she gives a brief description about the incident, pretty much what's been reported in media*. Also says " I don't think there are any cops who have not had an attempted murder charge against them, if they haven't, they are not doing their jobs"
He met his current employer a year ago and was offered the job then but declined as he was still happy in the police force. He was called again after OP bail and accepted the job as he felt abandoned by his police bosses. Even though he felt dejected, he still found it hard to resign.
The balance of the article is about effect on the family of all the allegations etc. I've probably missed some out not knowing if its really relevant as its a long article but this is the gist of it.
A last paragraph and comment by Kenny Oldwage states that Hilton was given time to deliver his evidence and was not constantly interrupted. " He was there to give his version and I think he was capable of giving it. The interpretation was clear. What was put to him was what was responded to and what he believed to be probably possible. There's no space for another interpretation. If there was, why didn't he rectify it then and there? "
Done I think
sorry for spelling or anything else and hope there is something useful to discuss.
