Bail Granted to South African 'Blade Runner' in Murder Case
South African Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius has been
granted bail as he prepares to face charges of murdering his
girlfriend.
In a lengthy ruling Friday that harshly criticized the police investigation of the murder scene, Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled that Pistorius can go free.
The judge read his decision aloud for over two hours in the Pretoria court. When he finally came to the question of bail, Pistorius' family reacted with jubilation.
Pistorius, known as the "blade runner" for his high-tech artificial legs, has spent eight days in police custody since the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home last week.
Pistorius says he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for a burglar in the middle of the night. Prosecutors accused him of premeditated murder.
Nair said he could not conclude that Pistorius is a flight risk, nor that he has a propensity to commit violence or is likely to interfere with the police investigation.
Friday's ruling came at the end of an unusual four-day bail hearing that turned into a mini-trial and captured worldwide attention.
Pistorius struggled to contain his emotions throughout. VOA's Anita Powell, who was in the courtroom, says he wept every time prosecutors or the judge described the night of Steenkamp's killing.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux has acknowledged Pistorius will face murder charges, but he is seeking to have them downgraded to "culpable homicide."
The case took an unexpected twist Thursday, when the lead investigator in the case, Hilton Botha, was replaced after it was revealed he had been charged with seven counts of attempted murder.
The charges, which were dropped at one point but later reinstated, are related to a 2011 incident when Botha and two other officers allegedly opened fire on a minibus. Botha was replaced by Vinesh Moonoo, the top detective of South Africa's national police force.
The magistrate said earlier this week that he could not rule out premeditation in the case, but said the charge could be downgraded. Premeditated murder carries a possible life sentence in prison.
Pistorius is regarded as a sports hero and national icon in South Africa. He made history in August when he became the first double amputee to run at the Olympics.
In a lengthy ruling Friday that harshly criticized the police investigation of the murder scene, Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled that Pistorius can go free.
The judge read his decision aloud for over two hours in the Pretoria court. When he finally came to the question of bail, Pistorius' family reacted with jubilation.
Pistorius, known as the "blade runner" for his high-tech artificial legs, has spent eight days in police custody since the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home last week.
Pistorius says he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for a burglar in the middle of the night. Prosecutors accused him of premeditated murder.
Nair said he could not conclude that Pistorius is a flight risk, nor that he has a propensity to commit violence or is likely to interfere with the police investigation.
Friday's ruling came at the end of an unusual four-day bail hearing that turned into a mini-trial and captured worldwide attention.
Pistorius struggled to contain his emotions throughout. VOA's Anita Powell, who was in the courtroom, says he wept every time prosecutors or the judge described the night of Steenkamp's killing.
Defense lawyer Barry Roux has acknowledged Pistorius will face murder charges, but he is seeking to have them downgraded to "culpable homicide."
The case took an unexpected twist Thursday, when the lead investigator in the case, Hilton Botha, was replaced after it was revealed he had been charged with seven counts of attempted murder.
The charges, which were dropped at one point but later reinstated, are related to a 2011 incident when Botha and two other officers allegedly opened fire on a minibus. Botha was replaced by Vinesh Moonoo, the top detective of South Africa's national police force.
The magistrate said earlier this week that he could not rule out premeditation in the case, but said the charge could be downgraded. Premeditated murder carries a possible life sentence in prison.
Pistorius is regarded as a sports hero and national icon in South Africa. He made history in August when he became the first double amputee to run at the Olympics.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/judge-to-decide-on-bail-for-pistorius/1608613.html
Comentarios