The former lead detective in the investigation of the murder case against Oscar Pistorius has resigned from the police force, South African police say, according to Belfast Telegraph.

Detective Hilton Botha voluntarily applied to leave the service, Police Brig Neville Malila said today.

Botha made several procedural errors in his role as the lead investigator after Pistorius, the double-amputee athlete who competed at the London Olympics, shot and killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14.

It later emerged that Botha faced attempted murder charges for a case in which he fired on a vehicle in an attempt to make it stop.

His superiors then removed him from the Pistorius case.