Oscar free, but under THESE conditions
By Neal Collins
Oscar Pistorius, in case you hadn’t heard, was granted bail on a charge of murder before the full glare of the world’s media on Friday afternoon. Clearly, that’s something of a victory for the first amputee to compete in the able-bodied Olympics.
The man who put four bullets through his toilet door on Valentine’s Day, killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been cleared to live a normal life – at least until June 4 when the case resumes.
Tonight, on SportsTalk on www.702.co.za just after 7pm, we asked James Evans, the head of Athletics South Africa, if Oscar will be able to compete in the South African national championships in Cape Town on April 12 and 13. Just Friday morning, his coach, Ampie Louw, said he hopes to have him back on the track training by Monday.
But do his bail conditions allow Oscar to train … or compete? Should they be harsher? Will he want to compete again given his apparent emotional state over the past four days in the dock? Oscar was due to spend a further night in Brooklyn Police station tonight as the R100 000 cash installment on his bail could not be paid by the end of the day.
But a last-minute deal with his highly efficient defence team saw him whisked to an “upmarket home” in plush Waterkloof. After today’s lengthy summation from magistrate Desmond Nair – which at one point touched on the Boer War – questions continue to be asked about the role of discredited Investigations Officer Hilton Botha – but for now attention must turn to Oscar’s bail order.
These are the full set of conditions set by the long-winded Nair after a two-hour speech in Pretoria:
1 Oscar, who has already given up his passport, is not allowed near any airports without permission.
2 (This is the best bit). He must surrender all firearms.
3 He cannot communicate with prosecution witnesses.
4 Pistorius has to inform authorities if he leaves Tshwane municipality.
5 He must be in contact with a state probation officer to asses his emotional state and receive counselling where necessary.
6 Pistorius is banned from consuming alcohol or drugs. He must take random alcohol and drug tests if instructed.
7 Magistrate Nair turned down the defence’s request for R250 000 bail and instead instructed Pistorius to pay R1 million – but said he could be released after a cash payment of R100 000.
8 He will return to court on June 4 when the case resumes.
9 He will NOT be permitted to stay at the crime scene, his home in the secure Silver Woods estate east of Pretoria.
10 Pistorius must not return to scene of the shooting, he cannot talk to residents except Stander family and contractors.
11 He must report to Brooklyn police station between 7am and 1pm every Monday and Friday.