Oscar Pistorius granted bail

Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was granted bail on Friday pending a trial where he is accused of the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Desmond Nair made the decision after a four-day bail hearing, deciding whether or not the athlete should remain in custody as he awaits trial.

The court set bail at 1 million rand (85,500 euros, $113,000) and postponed the case until June 4. Pistorius was also ordered to surrender his passport and firearms, and to check in with Pretoria police every Monday and Friday.

Murder or mistake?

Pistorius, 26, faces a charge of pre-meditated murder over the February 14 death of Steenkamp, who was shot four times. The athlete says the killing was accidental. Pistorius issued a statement telling investigators he shot Steenkamp through a locked door, presuming her to be an intruder. Nair mentioned this statement specifically as a reason for granting bail.

"That reaching out in the affidavit, the way that he did, placing it before the court," Nair said. "I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail."

Prosecutors say they believe the killing was deliberate, alleging that he killed the 29- year-old model after an argument in the early hours of Valentine's Day. They had also argued that Pistorius should be considered a flight risk and should therefore be refused bail.

The case, which has received international media attention, was complicated by the removal of the lead detective on Thursday. South Africa's police commissioner dropped Hilton Botha from the case after news surfaced about attempted murder charges leveled against the officer for allegedly firing shots at a vehicle carrying seven people during the course of an investigation.

Pistorius rose to international fame at the London Olympics and Paralympics of 2012. He was the first double amputee ever to compete against able-bodied athletes, with the assistance of his carbon fiber prosthetics.

msh/tm (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)