Oscar Pristorious Finally Granted Bail

Oscar Pistorius has been released on bail at the end of a tense hearing which has gripped South Africa and the world. There was no sign of joy from the Olympian and Paralympian who continued to sob and looked plunged into despair as the magistrate read out his decision on Friday.

But there were smiles of relief from Pistorius’s family, who gathered in a circle to pray, and a shout of “yes!” from friends who leaped to their feet in the charged courtroom. The magistrate set the bail at 1m rand (£73,000) and said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns he owns. The Paralympian’s next court appearance was scheduled for 4 June. The magistrate also ruled he could not return to his home, where the killing of Steenkamp took place.