Nissan to lay off thousands of workers as sales drop    Trump picks Susan Wiles as White House chief of staff    Three charged in connection with Liam Payne's death    Israel passes law to deport relatives of attackers, including citizens    Monkey mayhem in South Carolina after 43 primates escape research facility    Russian anti-war teenager faces five years in jail after failed appeal    Uproar in Ghana after president unveils his own statue    BD and INS partner to elevate standards of infusion care in MENAT    Qassim emir launches 52 health projects costing a total of SR456 million    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    Fakeeh Care Group reports 9M-2024 net profit of SR195.3 million, up 49% y-o-y driven by solid revenue growth and robust profitability    GASTAT: Passengers of public transport bus and train soar 176% and 33% respectively in 2023    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pistorius granted bail, will appeal murder conviction
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 12 - 2015

Former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was released on bail on Tuesday, as he vowed to appeal against his murder conviction for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
South African judges last week found him guilty of murder and overturned his earlier conviction on the lesser charge of culpable homicide for killing Steenkamp, a model and law graduate.
Pistorius, 29, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, appeared relaxed at the bail hearing in the Pretoria High Court, chatting with his legal team before standing in the dock to hear the judge's ruling.
He was released from jail in October to live under house arrest at his uncle's house in Pretoria after serving one year of his five-year prison sentence for culpable homicide — the equivalent of manslaughter.
Under the new conviction for murder, he faces a minimum 15-year jail term that may be reduced due to time already spent in jail and as he is a first-time offender. "The applicant is released on bail of 10,000 rand ($690)," judge Aubrey Ledwaba said, adding Pistorius would remain under house arrest.
Ledwaba said Pistorius would be electronically monitored to track his location, but would be allowed to leave the house at set times with official permission.
The court will meet again on April 18 to seek an update on whether Pistorius's appeal to the Constitutional Court, South Africa's highest court, has been accepted.
Pistorius's bail application on Tuesday outlined the basis of his bid to go to the Constitutional Court after the murder conviction by the Supreme Court of Appeal last week.
"(It) impermissibly reconsidered the factual finding made by the trial Court that I genuinely and honestly believed that my life and that of the deceased were in danger when I discharged the shots," he argued.
Pistorius spoke in court only to calmly say "I do" when asked whether he made his bail application voluntarily. No date was announced for his re-sentencing.
A lawyer for Steenkamp's family said that they "understand it is his constitutional right to (appeal), but believe it is a delaying tactic as they do believe that he is guilty of murder."
Martin Hood, a criminal lawyer based in Johannesburg, said that Pistorius was now "clutching at straws" by trying to appeal to the Constitutional Court.
"The Supreme Court of Appeal's judgement was clear, simple, lucid,' Hood said.
The Paralympic gold medallist's lawyers had earlier said he cannot afford further legal battles after being left penniless by huge bills.
On the streets outside the court, South Africans voiced their displeasure with Pistorius, saying he was not prepared to take responsibility for his actions.
"He's supposed to get 15 years in jail, he deserves it," said Thomas Mdlule, a 30-year-old selling newspapers on a corner close to the court. "He must be inside jail, not under house arrest."
Pistorius killed Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day two years ago, saying he mistook her for an intruder when he shot four times through the locked door of his bedroom toilet with a pistol he kept under his bed.
During his dramatic trial, he denied killing her in a rage, sobbing and occasionally vomiting in the dock as details of his lover's death were examined in excruciating detail.
The murder conviction ruling last week said that it was "inconceivable that a rational person could have believed he was entitled to fire at this person with a heavy calibre firearm."
The double-amputee sprinter, known as the "Blade Runner" because of the prosthetic legs he used on the track, made his first appearance in public last month since leaving jail when he reported for community service at a Pretoria police station.
He killed Steenkamp at the peak of his fame, and he has since lost his glittering sports career, lucrative contracts and status as a global role model for the disabled.
No family members from either side were in court on Tuesday. The bail application revealed Pistorius is studying a business and law course via the Internet at the London School of Economics.


Clic here to read the story from its source.