Reeva Steenkamp may have had her skull crushed on the night she was shot dead by Oscar Pistorius, it was claimed yesterday. A bloodied cricket bat found by police at the South African Blade Runner"s home was last night at the centre of the case. Detectives will run forensic tests to see who the blood belonged to, amid reports it could also have been used by 30-year-old Reeva to protect herself as she was gunned down. A source close to the investigation said: "There was lots of blood on the bat. Forensic tests will show whose it was." Officers have specifically asked analysts to test for traces of �steroids and other drugs. As well as bullet wounds to the head, arm, hand and hip, Reeva suffered a fractured skull, a postmortem revealed. It was also claimed a cartridge was discovered in the bedroom of 26-year-old Pistorius after the �Valentine"s Day slaughter at his Pretoria home. The source said: "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 went through her hand." After the shooting, Pistorius is said to have made an 3.20am call to dad Henke begging him to come to his house. When they arrived he was said to have Reeva "dangling" in his arms as he tried to give her mouth-to-mouth. Pistorius allegedly told his sister Aimee something terrible had happened and he had shot Reeva by mistake, thinking she was a burglar. She has given a sworn statement to police, it is believed. Sources claim police have a "rock solid" case against the �Paralympian. The gold medallists family have hit back by insisting detectives have no evidence to bring a murder charge. But Henke and his wife said they have "zero doubt" his son acted on instinct when he shot Reeva. He added: "It"s totally absurd to even suggest anything different. 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 not." Other relatives said Pistorius is as "numb with shock as well as grief". A family statement said: "We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the State"s case strongly refutes any possibility of premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all." It is believed security guards manning the gated community where the athlete lived were first on the scene after the shooting. One said: "He was almost collapsed and full of remorse." Justin Divaris, a close friend of Pistorius told how the athlete called him after the tragedy. He added: "He said, "There has been a terrible accident, I shot Reeva." Next thing his neighbour picked up the phone and told me it was true. I was in total shock. I asked, "Is she OK?" She replied, "No. She"s not OK."" On Saturday, TV bosses broadcast film of Reeva on reality show, Tropika Island of Treasure, in Jamaica. In an interview before leaving, the model spoke about leaving an impact on life. She said: "The way you make your exit is so �important." Relatives of Pistorius fear the tragedy could kill his ailing grandparents Gerti, 89, and Henry, 95, who have been on medication ever since. Daughter Heidi Drew said: "This could mean their end."
