State set to oppose Oscar bail appeal
2013-03-11 15:33
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Johannesburg - The State is preparing to oppose Oscar Pistorius's appeal against his bail conditions, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Monday.
NPA spokesperson Medupe Simasiku confirmed that the appeal was filed, after reports emerged on Friday.
Simasiku said there was no court date yet but the State was preparing to oppose the application.
"The papers were served apparently on Friday to the clerk of the court," he said.
"We received a copy thereof during the weekend."
Reports on Friday said that Pistorius was to challenge his bail conditions as unwarranted and unfair.
His lawyers were seeking to have several of his bail conditions scrapped or altered, eNCA reported.
In papers before the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, 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 reportedly argued he should be able to travel if given permission from his case investigating officer.
Pistorius' legal team also contended 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 did 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' next court appearance is on 4 June.
Visit News24's Oscar Pistorius Special Report.
- SAPA