No ruling on Pistorius bail application
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E-mail Xinhua, February 22, 2013
The Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Thursday postponed ruling on paralympian Oscar Pistorius bail application to Friday, saying more argument was needed.
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Oscar Pistorius on court. |
During the grilling hearing on Thursday, prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that Pistorius had failed to provide exceptional circumstances why he should be granted bail.
Pistorius is facing charges of murdering his girl friend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, a crime for which bail is granted only under exceptional circumstances.
The double amputee denies the charge, saying he shot Steenkamp, mistaking her for a burglar.
Nel said no court would ever accept that Pistorius acted in self-defence.
Pistorius lawyer Barry Roux blasted the State's murder case against the athlete, saying there was no evidence of the pre- meditated murder of Steenkamp as alleged by the State, and that it was not mentioned on the charge sheet at all. Roux called the police investigation "poor".
Nel argued that Pistorius would flee once being granted bail, saying Pistorius had not offered to give up his passport, but had said he would if it was a condition of bail.
"We say there is nothing exceptional in this person's application. He's a man of means," Nel said. "He never said to this court: 'I'm not going anywhere'."
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