http://deadspin.com/5984829/reports-a-bloodied-cricket-bat-was-found-at-oscar-pistoriuss-home-and-reeva-steenkamps-skull-was-crushed

Reports: A Bloodied Cricket Bat Was Found At Oscar Pistorius’s Home And Reeva Steenkamp’s Skull Was “Crushed”

Sean Newell

South Africa's City Press is reporting that a bloodied cricket bat was found in Pistorius's home and that it may have been used against his girlfriend of four months, Reeva Steenkamp. Police are investigating several different scenarios involving the bat, including whether it was used against Steenkamp, if Pistorius used it to break through the bathroom door or if Steenkamp used it in self defense against Pistorius. It is also being reported that Steenkamp's skull was crushed. The bat was said to have been covered in "lots of blood."

In its report, City Press claims to have spoken to three sources close to the investigation. According to the sources, police have ruled out the possibility of the mistaken burglar angle and the state has a "rock-solid" case against Pistorius. We've already had reports that police were called hours earlier because of a loud argument and that Steenkamp was shot through the bathroom door. The Press sources have provided a more fleshed-out account of the events leading up to bathroom shooting.

Steenkamp was wearing her nightie at the time. When the police inspected Oscar's bedroom, they found her overnight bag and iPad on the floor. A holster for a 9mm pistol was found on Oscar's side of the bed.

The bedclothes were crumpled. "It was clear that both of them had slept in the bed," said a police source.

One cartridge was found in the bedroom and the police suspect Oscar may have "chased" her and fired the first shot before Steenkamp could lock herself inside the toilet.

"The suspicion is that the first shot, in the bedroom, hit her in the hip. She then ran and locked herself in the toilet. She was doubled over because of the pain. He fired three more shots. She probably covered her head, which is why the bullet also went through her hand," said a source.

It is unclear from this account how or when the cricket bat played into the altercation. Police requested that Pistorius's blood be analyzed for steroid and other drug use in anticipation for a "roid rage" defense.

Following the shooting, Pisotrius allegedly called his family.

Pistorius' father received a call from his son just after 3.20am on Thursday, asking him to come to his house. When his family arrived, Oscar was carrying Steenkamp's body down the stairs from his bedroom to the entrance hall. Her head and arms were "dangling".

He allegedly told his sister, Aimee, that something terrible had happened and that he had mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar. The police questioned Aimee and took a sworn statement from her.

Steenkamp was still breathing and Pistorius tried to resuscitate her in the foyer. Paramedics and police arrived on the scene and, minutes later, she was declared dead.

The Pistorius family is sticking to the burglary narrative for the time being. Henke Pistorius told The Telegraph that he believes the story Oscar reportedly told his sister Aimee because of the nature of South Africa and athletes in general.

"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," he said.

"When you are a sportsman, you act even more on instinct," he said. "It's instinct - things happen and that's what you do."