Lawyers appeal against Oscar Pistorius' bail restrictions

Pretoria: Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius appealed against some of his bail restrictions Thursday, saying the Olympic athlete might eventually need to return to track competition to earn money. Pistorius’ lawyers say the double-amputee runner, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend on Feb. 14, is being treated as a flight risk by his bail restrictions even though a magistrate ruled last month that he was not when he released Pistorius on 1 million rand ($108,000) bail. [caption id=“attachment_677656” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Oscar Pistorius. AFP[/caption] Lawyer Barry Roux said that Pistorius’ current bail restrictions amounted to “house arrest.” Prosecutors say they oppose any relaxing of Pistorius’ bail restrictions. Roux said that Pistorius has no desire to return to track now, but “this might and this will change.” He said Pistorius should be allowed to travel for international meets under “controlled” circumstances, where he would require advanced permission from police and would have to give details of his travel schedule before he left South Africa. Pistorius was not present in court Thursday. Roux also argued against the ruling that Pistorius is not allowed to return to his home in a gated community in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria, where he shot Reeva Steenkamp dead in the early hours of Valentine’s Day. The bail ruling prevented him from returning to his home or speaking to residents, but his lawyers say he must be allowed to consult with residents in order to prepare his defense against the murder charge against him. Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp accidentally when he fired shots through a door in his bathroom in the pre-dawn hour,s fearing there was an intruder in his house. Prosecutors say he shot the model and reality TV star intentionally after they argued, and they have charged him with premeditated murder. Pistorius was not required to attend his appeal hearing and there were also none of his family members present at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The judge said he would rule on Pistorius’ appeal later Thursday. Pistorius’ bail appeal was being heard by the judge at the high court a day after the athlete’s older brother, Carl Pistorius, went on trial for culpable homicide for the death of a woman motorcyclist in a 2008 road accident. Carl Pistorius pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the main charge of culpable homicide and not guilty to two alternative charges relating to driving recklessly and inconsiderately. AP