Pistorius granted bail in murder case

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was granted bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Chief magistrate Desmond Nair set bail at R1 million.  Pistorius could pay R100,000 first and the rest of the amount by March 1. Upon payment of the R100,000, Pistorius must be released from custody.

"At this stage I have to look at the facts the state has, and all it has now is circumstantial evidence. I cannot find that it has been established that the accused is a flight risk," Nair said.

He added that there was no evidence before him that Pistorius would interfere with state witnesses and no proper evidence relating to the public perception of the matter.

"... I come to the conclusion the accused has made a case to be released on bail."

"We have agreed on bail conditions," said prosecutor Gerrie Nel after bail was granted to Pistorius.

The conditions submitted were: 

• That he would be present at 8.30am at every court postponement date;
• He would not return to his home at Silver Woods estate in Pretoria, where the shooting occurred;
• He would reside at an address that would not be publicly disclosed;
• He would hand in all his passports and not apply for any passport or travel documents, and stay away from airports;
• He would report to the Brooklyn police station between 7am and 1pm from Monday to Friday;
• He would refrain from being in possession of any firearm and hand in all his firearms.

The case was postponed to June 4.

- The Herald and SAPA