Oscar Pistorius Can Leave South Africa To Compete

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, has won an appeal over his bail restrictions, permitting him to leave South Africa to compete in international competition, with conditions.

His lawyers told the North Guateng High Court that while the Olympic and Paralympic athlete had no immediate plans to compete, he might in time need to run at track meets again to continue earning a living.

Judge Bert Bam agreed to ease Pistorius' bail restrictions, but said he must provide authorities with his travel plans at least a week before he leaves the country.

He must also return his passport to the court within 24 hours of returning to South Africa.

Oscar Pistorius: Is On Suicide Watch?

South African Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius, accused of killing his murdering Reeva Steenkamp, is "on the verge of suicide," a close family friend said.

The athlete is a "broken man" after rising legal costs forced him to sell his belongings, Mike Azzie claims, noting that Pistorius denies it was murder.

His lawyers, meanwhile, have filed appeal to ease his bail restrictions.

Pistorius, who will be placed on trial for shooting his model girlfriend at his home last month, was freed on bailFebruary 22. His trial will commence in June.

Azzie, who has known the double amputee - a national hero and global inspiration before the tragedy - since childhood, fears for his mental and emotional state.

He said Pistorius is selling his belongings to cover astronomical legal fees.

He frequently talks about Reeva Steenkampand her family, Azzie says.

"He has no confidence in his tone of voice and he is almost like someone that is walking around in circles and doesn't know where he is going," Azzie said.

"I would say that, just speaking to him, he is a broken man. I would go as far as to say that he could be on the verge of suicide. It really worries me."

"He just always seems to mention Reeva and asks us to pray for her and her family, and [we] are there for him and we will always be his friend."

Steenkamp, 29, died after the star fired multiple shots into the bathroom of his apartment in a gated community in Pretoria on Valentine's Day.

Pistorius claims he thought she was an intruder when he killed her.

Oscar Pistorius: Lawyers Appeal Bail Restrictions

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius have filed an appeal in a South African court against bail restrictions imposed on the Olympian, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius has been staying at his uncle Arnold's home in a Pretoria suburb since he was released on bail on February 22.

In the papers, lawyers for the double-amputee athlete argued against the requirement that he surrender all passports and travel documents, and refrain from applying for such documents pending the end of his case.

"The conditions appealed against are unwarranted and not substantiated by the facts," said the appeal, which was filed on Friday in Pretoria, a copy of which was emailed to the AP news agency.

Pistorius says he mistakenly shot Steenkamp on February 14, thinking she was an intruder in his home.

Prosecutors believe he killed her intentionally after an argument.

The defence also argued that the runner should be allowed access to the property at Silverwoods Country Estate where he shot Steenkamp, once the state completes its investigations there within a "reasonable time limit".

"A blanket restriction on speaking to residents is unfair" and infringes on Pistorius' rights to consult people on the estate to prepare for his trial, the appeal said.

Defence lawyers said evidence presented at the athlete's bail hearing showed he is not a flight risk and should have the option of travelling outside South Africa as long as he has official permission.

The appeal also said there was "no basis in fact or in law'' justifying terms under which Pistorius must be supervised by a probation officer and a correctional official.

Officials will visit Pistorius at his uncle's home at least four times a month, according to James Smalberger, chief deputy commissioner of the department of correctional services, who spoke to AP last
month.

"He's not under house arrest, but his movements need to be known to us so that we don't pitch there and he's not there," Smalberger had said.

"We agree on 'free time' normally during the course of the day, and in the evening we expect him to be home."

The appeal against the bail conditions also objected to the requirement that Pistorius refrain from using alcohol or any banned substance, even though he had no intention of doing so.

"The mere use of any substance with alcohol in it will give rise to a transgression of the wide condition imposed," the appeal said.

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair had set bail at $113,000.

The 26-year-old track star was also ordered to turn in any guns he owns, and cannot leave the district of Pretoria without his probation officer's permission.