Oscar Pistorius free to leave South Africa for track meets

[spanone]

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A judge in South Africa says Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, can leave South Africa to compete in international competition, with conditions.

Judge Bert Bam says the Olympic and Paralympic athlete must provide authorities with his travel plans at least a week before he leaves the country. He must also return his passport to the court within 24 hours of returning to South Africa

Pistorius' lawyers said in the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday that he had no immediate plans to compete, but might eventually need to run at track meets again to earn money.

Pistorius' lawyers say that the double-amputee runner, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend on Feb. 14, was being treated as a flight risk even though a magistrate ruled last month that he was not when he released Pistorius on bail.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/03/28/pistorius-bail-appeal/2027203/

[malaise]

1. Did you see the program on him on TLC last night

This is no surprise - Oscar is white and an elite athlete. Who cares about the poor dead woman?

[spanone]

2. no i missed that...but celebrity sure has it's privileges.

[malaise]

3. Check this delish news-Oscar Pistorius faces athletics snub

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/28/oscar-pistorius-athletics-bail-conditions
<snip>
The sporting world has given the cold shoulder to Oscar Pistorius after a court in South Africa allowed the Olympic and Paralympic star to return to international competition.

Organisers of major athletics meetings now face a dilemma over whether to invite the 26-year-old to race. Many privately admit that they are reluctant to welcome Pistorius, who is awaiting trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home last month.

British Athletics declined to comment on the issue, but sources close to the governing body say Pistorius is unlikely to receive an invitation to run at the London Anniversary Games, to be held in the Olympic Stadium on 27 July, or at the Birmingham Grand Prix on 30 June.

Pistorius was a headline act at two prominent Diamond League meetings in the United States last year – New York and Eugene – but he is unlikely to be welcomed back to either this year. Organisers for the two events refused to comment publicly, but one source said: "My gut feeling is that it would be completely unrealistic."

[bluestate10]

4. Who would want Pistorius at their track meet? nt

[Spike89]

5. Especially when the case seems solid

You can't give lip service to the concept of a fair trial. Either you believe police have judge and jury powers or you believe the courts should decide guilt. There are certain things an accused person shouldn't be allowed to do, i.e., an accused person shouldn't be allowed to have contact with victims, witnesses, etc. They shouldn't be placed in positions where they might be a danger (this more relates to things like accused pedaphiles being around children).

Him running in a track meet really doesn't make him more likely to murder a girlfriend. The only reason to stop him from competing is to punish him and that isn't appropriate until he's been allowed to make his defense.