Bloodied cricket bat found in Pistorius' home

Investigators have found a bloodied cricket bat in the the home of paralympian Oscar Pristorius who was charged with murdering his girl friend Reeva Steenkamp, it was reported on Sunday.

The cricket bat was at the centre of the murder investigation against the star athlete, the City Press said.

Police were investigating two possibilities: that the cricket bat was used by Steenkamp to defend herself or that Pistorius used it to break down the bathroom door to get access to where Steenkamp was hiding.

Police sources close to the investigation told the paper that Steenkamp's skull had been "crushed".

"There was lots of blood on the bat," one source was quoted as saying.

The South African double amputee has been under police custody since Thursday after being arrested for allegedly shooting dead his girl friend Steenkamp in his Pretorius home.

The report quoted police sources as saying the first shot was fired in the bedroom and that the other three were fired at her through the bathroom door.

Pistorius told police he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar and shot her with a 9mm pistol.

He made his first court appearce at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday and was charged with premeditated murder. Pistorius lawyers asked for a postponement for a bail application until Tuesday next week.

Pristorius management company and family has disputed the alleged murder charges against the Blade Runner "in the strongest terms." Johannesburg (Xinhua)