Oscar Pistorius Police in Dock over Watch Theft and Mishandled Evidence

The police investigation into the killing of Reeva Steenkamp by Oscar Pistorius was slammed by a former officer who spoke of his "fury" at ex-colleagues.

Officers stole a watch belonging to the runner from the crime scene shortly after a forensic investigation began. The watch had been in a blood-spattered box with seven other timepieces before it vanished.

Later, Aimee Pistorius was at the crime scene and removed another of her brother's watches to take with her. She was seen by police officers.

Day 10 of the track star's trial at North Gauteng High Court proved difficult for police. The investigation into the high-profile case came under intense scrutiny, as defence lawyer Barry Roux attempted to show that it had been mishandled.

Retired police colonel Schoombie van Rensburg said he was "furious" when he noticed the watch had gone missing. He told the court: "I said, 'I can't believe it. We were just there. How can this watch be gone?'

"I saw those watches and I said 'this is tempting for any person because they are expensive watches.'

"I was furious."

In a separate incident, the policeman said he caught a colleague mishandling the 9mm pistol Pistorius used to gun down his girlfriend Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

Van Rensburg said: "At that particular moment the ballistics expert was handling the firearm without gloves."

Pistorius denies murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He claims he thought she had been an intruder in his luxury home on the outskirts of Pretoria. The prosecution claims he shot her dead following a row between the couple. Pistorius also faces firearms charges.

The trial continues.