Pretoria - Oscar Pistorius will remain free while he awaits sentencing for his culpable homicide conviction which will take place in October.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said that the State had failed to prove their claim that Pistorius should be put behind bars until sentencing.
She said Pistorius's selling of property, no longer owning a home of his own, did not indicate he would be a flight risk.
Masipa added that the State would have made an application regarding Pistorius's mental health earlier if the argument about his safety was sincere.
Pistorius' sentencing proceedings will begin at the Pretoria High Court on October 13.
Earlier on Friday, Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide following his killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. However, while he awaits sentencing, the court had the option to extend Pistorius’s bail conditions.
After the verdict, defence advocate Barry Roux, told the court that Pistorius's bail should still stand until Masipa had sentenced the athlete. He said Pistorius had been on bail on serious allegations and had followed his bail conditions to the tee.
Roux indicated that he would need time with Pistorius to meet with experts as they prepared to argue for the sentencing proceedings.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said he disagreed with Roux, and that Pistorius was grossly and negligently responsible for the death of an innocent woman.
He said now that Pistorius knows he's been convicted, there was little reason to maintain his bail.
Nel noted that Pistorius had sold his properties, and no longer has a home as he lives with family. He then mentioned an incident where Pistorius was allegedly asked to leave from a night club after an altercation in July.
He quoted a media release from the Pistorius family that said the family was wary of the “current climate” surrounding people's perceptions of the athlete.
Combined with the State psychologist's assertions that Pistorius is a suicide risk, Nel believed the athlete should not be left to his own devices.
He said the serious nature of a culpable homicide conviction meant that in the interest of justice, Pistorius should be imprisoned immediately.
Roux argued that while culpable homicide is a serious crime, there were far more serious charges.
The advocate also responded that Pistorius had sold his properties to pay for his legal fees.
He added the onus was on the state to prove why Pistorius should not have bail until his sentencing.
The Star