Pistorius Cop Reveals Blood Bath Nightmares
The police photographer called to the Oscar Pistorius crime scene has spoken of the trauma and nightmares he still suffers.
In court papers accusing bosses of ignoring his deteriorating mental health and refusing to put him on a medical pension, Morne du Toit said the scene he found at Pistorius' house convinced him it was time to leave the police.
The Olympic and Paralymic athlete was jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013.
He was found guilty of culpable homicide, but cleared of murder after a judge ruled he did not intend to kill when he fired shots through the bathroom door of his home in Pretoria.
Pictures of the crime scene given to Sky News showed a trail of blood from the bathroom, flecks of blood on the wall, on the sofa downstairs and on the landing.
Mr du Toit claims what he encountered that day continues to haunt his dreams.
"I can still remember the distinct smell of death at the front door and today I can still taste blood in my mouth," he said.
"This incident haunts me day and night, it controls my dreams and I can't seem to make it go away."
The officer has not returned to work after being admitted to hospital suffering major depression and post-traumatic stress (PTS) three weeks after photographing the scene at Pistorius' home.
"I started taking pictures in the bathroom on the top floor where the victim was shot in the toilet," he said.
"I took pictures in the toilet, the bullet holes through the toilet door and the blood splatters in the bathroom.
"I went to the main bedroom and followed the bloody trail downstairs to the front door.
"At the front door was a pile of towels, soaked in blood.
"All the walls from the main bedroom to the front door had blood splatters.
"The smell of death was prominent at the front door. I still remember the scene very clearly.
"I have continuous dreams of lying in a bath of blood. These thoughts flash through my mind … it haunts me and keeps me awake."
Mr du Toit had already been diagnosed with PTS in 2010 and put on temporary sick leave after covering countless murders during his 20-year career.
Despite his ill health he claims he was then re-posted to photograph priority crime investigations.
He re-applied for retirement on grounds of ill health two months after photographing the Pistorius crime scene, but police bosses later withdrew permission, claiming he was secretly still working.
Mr du Toit says he was denied a medical pension despite these allegations being unfounded following a police investigation.
The South African Police Service is currently reviewing Mr Du Toit's allegations.
