Oscar Pistorius Is Granted Bail Amid Murder Charges

Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail by a judge in South Africa, according to the New York Times World (via Twitter).

Lydia Polgreen and Alan Cowell of the New York Times reported that Pistorius' bail is set at "1 million rand, or about $112,000."

More details were provided by Kevin Dolak and Bazi Kanani of ABC News, including this quote from magistrate Desmond Nair, who made the decision to grant Pistorius bail:

"The issue before me is whether this accused, being who is and the assets he has [here], would seek to duck and dive all over the world...I cannot find that he is a flight risk."

The report notes that Magistrate Nair talked about whether Pistorius is a danger to others. He added that using foul language against people in arguments and once threatening to break someone's legs is not the same thing as an arrest record of violence. 

Pistorius was arrested and charged with killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (via NBC News) at his home on Feb. 14.

The report from John Newland, Jason Cumming and Cecile Antonie in the NBC News report said that police spokeswoman Denise Beukes would not support bail for Pistorius: "Beukes said there were no signs of forced entry to the home and said that police would oppose any application Pistorius might make to be released on bail."

Bail hearings took place over the course of four days, with the ABC News report stating that Pistorius "sobbed" in the courtroom on Friday. 

The already strange case took an interesting turn on Thursday, the day before the bail announcement, when it was announced that lead investigator Hilton Botha got pulled from the case (via CNN.com) after having attempted murder charges reinstated against him.

Pistorius' trial date has not been set, though the ABC report states it could be six to eight months before it begins. 

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