EYEWITNESS NEWS, MAIL & GUARDIAN, NEWS 24 (South Africa)
PRETORIA – A South African judge Thursday relaxed he bail conditions for Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of killing his girlfriend less than a year after making history as the first double-leg amputee to ever run in the Olympics.
The decision by the North Gauteng High Court will allow the famous Paralympian to travel overseas to compete in track events while he awaits trial on premeditated murder, according to South African Eyewitness News.
Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux said the the “Blade-runner” has no immediate plans to travel outside the country, or compete.
Arrested on February 14 for the murder of South African model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius admits to shooting his girlfriend, but says he’d mistaken her for an intruder in the middle of the night.
He was released on bail of $108,000 last month with stringent terms including: surrendering his passport, weekly drug and alcohol testing and a blanket ban on speaking to people at his property where Steenkamp’s death took place, reports the Mail & Guardian.
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Pistorius wins the 400m T44 Final in 2012. Photo by David Jones
Judge Bert Bam said: “I can find no reason why Pistorius should not be allowed to travel overseas to compete if invited to do so.” South Africa’s News24 writes that Bam ruled that Pistorius will have to hand his passport to his lawyer and should he decide to travel, must provide an itinerary to the National Prosecuting Authority.
The judge also revoked conditions relating to the track star’s presence at his home and reporting to a police station in the capital twice a week.
