PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius was granted bail on Friday, paving the way for him to be freed from custody pending his trial in the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair made the ruling after four days of arguments from prosecution and defence in Pistorius's bail hearing, and after spending about one hour and 45 minutes reading his decision.
Nair said Pistorius's affidavit, in which he gave his version of the events of the shooting on morning of Feb 14 in a sworn statement, had helped his application for bail in Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
Pistorius' supporters shouted "Yes" when the magistrate made his ruling. Nair then ordered a court break before establishing the terms of the bail.
Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp in the predawn hours of Feb 14. The athlete says he shot his girlfriend accidentally believing she was an intruder in his house.
Prosecutors say he intended to kill Steenkamp and charged him with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed a loud argument between the two.