Sprinter cleared for international travel
A South African court yesterday cleared Paralympian Oscar Pistorius for international travel, easing stringent bail terms set for the Paralympian sprint star after he was charged with murdering his girlfriend.
Pistorius, 26, whose athletics career has been on hold since the Valentine’s Day killing of Reena Steenkamp, had appealed against a raft of bail conditions he said were unfair and unwarranted.
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Pretoria High Court Judge Bert Bam said the initial magistrate’s decision last month to order Pistorius to hand over his passport was “wrong”.
“I find no reason why the appellant should be forbidden to leave the Republic of South Africa if invited to compete in athletics in other countries,” Bam ruled.
Pistorius will however have to submit his itinerary to the prosecution at least one week before travel and hand back his passport within 24 hours of return.
The double amputee known as ‘Blade Runner’ — who faces trial later this year on a charge of premeditated murder — was not in court for the appeal, which was opposed by the state.
The judge also ruled that Pistorius could return to his upmarket Pretoria home where Steenkamp was shot dead and lifted a requirement for him to undergo random mandatory alcohol and drug tests.
Pistorius’ agent Peet Van Zyl revealed that the sprinter will decide “if he wants to run again", Van Zyl said, adding that he has not resumed training.
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