Magistrate Nair grants Oscar Pistorius R1m bail

Magistrate Desmond Nair of the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday granted South Africa Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius bail set at One Million Rand following three and a half days of dramatic testimony and argument.

After eight nights in Police detention, Pistorius, who is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, will leave the court to an unknown destination but can no longer go back to the house where the killing took place.

Magistrate Desmond Nair decided that 'was not a flight risk and a propensity for violence had not been shown' and thus came "to the conclusion the accused has made a case to be released on bail".

Nair said 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.

Nair however stuck to his decision to treat the charge against Oscar Pistorius as a schedule six offence, but made it clear it was not up to him to find him guilty or not.

"I am not here at this point in time to find the accused guilty of pre-meditated murder," Nair said in summing up Pistorius' bail application in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

The bail was set at R1 million. He 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.

"We have agreed on bail conditions," said prosecutor Gerrie Nel after bail was granted to Pistorius who is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Nair: I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail

Conditions of Bail

• 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.
• Her 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.

Listen to Magistrate Nair's Ruling

The case has been adjourned to June 4, 2013

(Additional Information/stories by SAPA)