Oscar Pistorius' cricket bat is the central piece of evidence in the murder investigation into Reeva Steenkamp's death, according to South Africa's City Press. Police are investigating different scenarios involving the cricket bat, one of which is that Olympic hero Pistorius used it to viciously assault her before the fatal shooting.

Detectives are also investigating the possibility that Steenkamp may have used the bat in self-defence or that Pistorius used it to break down the toilet door behind which Steenkamp was hiding from him. The model's skull was "crushed" and police tests on the cricket bat and her body will reveal if the injuries were caused by blows to the back of her head. "There was lots of blood on the bat. Forensic tests will show whose blood it was," said a source with inside knowledge of the case.

Three other sources close to the investigation all ruled out of the possibility that Pistorius could have mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder, which was widely reported on Friday. The Olympian is being held at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria and will apply for bail on Tuesday. He denies murdering Steenkamp. If a court finds him guilty he is likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Oscar Pistorius, Alex Cross PremiereOscar Pistorius' Cricket Bat Is A Key Piece Of Evidence In The Murder Investigation

Based on its interviews with sources, City Press suggest Pistorius' father received a call from his son just after 3.20am on Thursday (February 14, 2013) asking him to come to his house. When the family arrived, "Oscar was carrying Steenkamp's body down the stairs from his bedroom to the entrance hall." He allegedly told sister Aimee that something terrible had happened and that he had mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder.