Oscar Pistorius released on bail in Reeva Steenkamp case

Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the fatal shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been released on bail after a lengthy hearing.

South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp thinking she was an intruder at his home.

The prosecution had argued that bail should be refused because there was a risk Oscar Pistorius, 26, would abscond.

Magistrate Desmond Nair said the state had not made a case that he would flee, or that the sprinter had a violent character.

Desmond Nair said that Oscar Pistorius had “reached out to meet the state’s case” at an early stage.

The magistrate took almost two hours to deliver his judgement.

Desmond Nair criticized the testimony of lead detective Hilton Botha, saying he had not followed up important leads and had changed his testimony.

But he also said he had difficulty understanding why Oscar Pistorius had opened fire in the way he did.

Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was a model and law graduate with a burgeoning television career.