The National Prosecuting Authority will oppose Paralympics sprinter Oscar Pistorius's application to ease some of the strict bail conditions imposed on him three weeks ago.
Pistorius, who is out on R1-million bail, is facing murder charges for the Valentine's Day fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.Chief magistrate Desmond Nair released Pistorius under strict bail conditions
on February 22, but found that he was not a flight risk.
On Friday, Pistorius reportedly appealed to be allowed to travel - with the permission of the investigating officer - since Nair had found during the bail application that he was not a flight risk.In addition Pistorius wants to be allowed access to his Silverwoods Country Estate home in Pretoria East, where the shooting occurred.
It also emerged yesterday that Pistorius intends to sell the multimillion-rand house.Family spokesman Johan van Wyk yesterday said: "He has signalled his intention to sell [the house], but nothing has been done proactively to start the process."
The double amputee is also reportedly not happy with a "blanket order" preventing him from talking to the complex's residents.His legal team will argue that it was not necessary for him to report to the Brooklyn police station twice a week as ordered by Nair.
In addition, Pistorius wants his constant supervision by a probation officer and submission to compulsory drug and alcohol testing halted.He said in his appeal papers that the compulsory substance-testing condition was "not warranted or substantiated by any facts" and that he had "no desire" to use any prohibited substances or alcohol.
The authority's Medupe Simasiku said: "We will present our case in court ... we will oppose the application as we did the bail."Simasiku said Pistorius filed the appeal papers with the clerk of the court and that the application was likely to be heard in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court by a different magistrate to the one who imposed the bail conditions.
Steenkamp was shot behind a closed bathroom door but Pistorius denies murdering her, arguing that he thought he was shooting at an intruder.The 2012 Paralympics 400m gold medallist spent eight days in the holding cells at Brooklyn police station in a case that attracted international attention. The double amputee will be back in court on June 4.
The date for Pistorius's appeal against the bail conditions has yet to be set.
Source: times
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