 |
| Oscar Pistorius |
South African blade-runner, Oscar Pistorius who was convicted of murder, has been granted bail until he returns to court on April 18, 2016. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba agreed that the embattled sprinter stay out of jail, despite his fresh conviction for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. After the defence counsel pleaded that Pistorious had no money left, a bail to the tune of 10,000 rand (less than £500), payable by Friday was agreed at.
Ledwaba posited that it would be against the interest of justice to restrict Pistorius to 24-hour-house-arrest at his uncle’s Pretoria home as the state requested. The justice however allowed Pictorius continue his current relative-freedom and could leave the house between 7am and 12noon every day. The judge says he must not leave the district of Tshwane. He must hand over his passport and must not apply for a new one.
Pistorius will be electronically tagged, and must keep within a 20km radius of the house and surrender his passport. Pistorius was initially sentenced to five years in jail by a South African judge for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s day in 2013.
Months later, a South African parole board approved the placement under house arrest and correctional supervision for four years of Oscar Pistorius. It would be recalled that the appeals court had ruled that Pistorius should have been charged and convicted of murder and must be re-sentenced.
Naij.com