Oscar Pistorius Granted Bail After Guilty Verdict in Reeva Steenkamp Trial

Oscar Pistorius has been granted bail until he is sentenced for killing Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa rejected calls to incarcerate the runner until sentencing for culpable homicide and a gun charge.

It means the runner is free to stay with relatives following his conviction for negligently killing his girlfriend by shooting her at his luxury home.

Opposing the award of bail, prosecutor Gerrie Nel had claimed Pistorius might seek to escape justice by killing himself or fleeing South Africa.

But the judge said she was convinced by the fallen star's defence and believed he would show up in court for sentencing.

The decision came after Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide in the killing of Steenkamp. He was also convicted of a separate firearms charge relating to the firing of a gun inside a packed Johannesburg restaurant.

Granting bail, Masipa said: "I'm of the view the explanation given by the accused [about property] is satisfactory. It is my view that if the state had any reason to suspect the properties were sold to enable the accused to take flight, the state would have investigated the matter long ago.

"If the state had said this information had taken it by surprise, it would have been a different situation. There has been no suggestion by the state that because the accused no longer owns property there was [the] likelihood he might flee."