'Bloodied cricket bat central evidence in Oscar Pistorius case' paper claims

Confusion surrounding the death of Reeva Steenkamp has intensified amid claims a bloodied cricket bat was found at the home of her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius.

South African newspaper the City Press yesterday reported Steenkamp’s skull was “crushed”, and claimed the bat is the central piece of evidence against her athlete boyfriend in the unfolding murder investigation.

Citing sources close to the investigation, the paper said police requested Pistorius undergo drug tests.

City Press also claimed Pistorius called his father soon after 3.20am on Thursday and asked him to come to the house. When the family arrived, Pistorius was allegedly carrying Steenkamp down the stairs, her head and arms "dangling".

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The South African athlete wept in court on Friday as prosecutors said they would pursue a charge of premeditated murder.

Pistorius is due to apply for bail tomorrow at a court hearing in Pretoria, the same day Steenkamp is due to be cremated at a private funeral.

Pistorius's father Henke said he had "zero doubt" Steenkamp's death was a tragic accident. He told the Sunday Telegraph: "When you are a sportsman, you act even more on instinct. It's instinct – things happen and that's what you do."

He added: "When you wake up in the middle of the night – and crime is so endemic in South Africa – what do you do if somebody is in the house? Do you think it's one of your family? Of course you don't."

Barry Steenkamp, the father of the 29-year-old model, told the Mail on Sunday the family was struggling to come to terms with her death, but said: “There is no hatred in our hearts.”

The Guardian reports a police spokeswoman could not explain how the claims emerged but did not deny them. "We are not commenting on anything in the newspapers today as the case is still before the court," she said.

"They are insinuating they got the information from the police. They did not."