Oscar to challenge bail conditions - report

2013-03-08 19:02

Oscar Pistorius (Themba Hadebe, AFP)

Johannesburg - Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius is to challenge his bail conditions as unwarranted and unfair, according to a report on Friday night.

His lawyers would seek to have several of his bail conditions scrapped or altered, eNCA reported.

In papers before the North Gauteng High Court, his lawyers argued that Pistorius should to be able to travel, given that Magistrate Desmond Nair found during his bail application that he was not a flight risk.

They argue he should be able to travel if given permission from his case investigating officer, eNCA reported.

Pistorius' legal team also contend it should not be necessary for him to report to the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria.

They also sought an end to being supervised by a probation officer and submitting to compulsory drug and alcohol testing.

"There is no desire by the appellant to use any prohibited substance or alcohol, but the condition imposed is not warranted or substantiated by facts," the application reportedly read.

Pistorius would also ask the court to allow him to return to his Pretoria home where he shot his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day.

His legal team said it was unfair to place a "blanket order" which does not allow him to talk to the residents within the security complex.

Pistorius stands accused of murdering Steenkamp in his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day.

In an affidavit submitted as part of his bail application, Pistorius said he thought he was shooting at an intruder behind a closed bathroom door.

He was granted R1m bail on Friday, 22 February. He was allowed to pay an initial instalment of R100 000, with the balance due by 1 March.

Steenkamp was cremated in a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth on 19 February.

Pistorius's next court appearance is on 4 June.

Visit News24's Oscar Pistorius Special Report.

- SAPA