Pretoria – Prosecutor Gerrie Nel was caught unawares when reports surfaced that the investigator in the Oscar Pistorius case was himself charged with attempted murder, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Thursday.

“We didn’t know,” said Nel.

He continued: “We have heard that he will appear in May.”

Magistrate Desmond Nair then asked that Hilton Botha be fetched, and he called for an adjournment for this purpose.

This followed reports that Botha faces attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting at a taxi.

Nair asked about the incident.

Nel said it happened in December 2011 and that the matter was on the court roll until March 2012. It was then withdrawn, but was later reinstated.

Nel said Botha was in the building and would be fetched.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, which he has denied in an affidavit. – Sapa