/ 25 February 2013

Lawyers mum on Pistorius’s possible high court bail bid

Oscar Pistorius will hear if he has made bail later on Friday.
Oscar Pistorius will hear if he has made bail later on Friday.

"I can't comment on that," said one of his lawyers, Brian Webber, on Monday.

The Times reported on Monday that Pistorius's legal team was considering its position to approach the court.

"I have no comment on that at the present moment, unfortunately. We are still considering our position and this is really as much as I can say right now," his advocate Kenny Oldwage told the newspaper.

He did not specify which conditions were undesirable.

The athlete was expected to report to the Brooklyn Police Station on Monday morning as part of his bail conditions, which were set down by magistrate Desmond Nair in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Media interest
​Pistorius was ordered to report to the station twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

The 2012 Paralympics 400m gold medallist and Olympian spent his first weekend at home after being held for eight days at the Brooklyn Police Station.

Meanwhile, journalists arrived at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria in anticipation of Pistorius's arrival.

Before 10am, local and international news crews had parked several vehicles including outside broadcast vans, along the busy Duxbury road, outside the police station.

Some journalists erected tents and gazebos with generators for back-up power outside the police station. Passing motorists slowed down and a few asked if Pistorius had already checked in.

Charges
Pistorius was charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot at his home in Pretoria on February 14.

In an affidavit submitted as part of his application for bail, Pistorius said he had thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

After listening to extensive argument, Nair ruled that the sprinter was not a flight risk and that the state had not shown that he had a propensity for violence.

Pistorius was granted bail of R1-million. He was allowed to pay an initial instalment of R100 000, with the balance due by March 1.

The conditions of bail included that Pistorius not be charged with any offence relating to violence against women; not return to his home in Silver Woods country estate; not apply for travel documents; and not take banned substances or alcohol.

He would live at an undisclosed address until his next court appearance on June 4. – Sapa