Media queue at Oscar’s bail bid

Journalists camped outside the police station in Brooklyn Police Station, where Oscar Pistorius was being held last week. The paralympian has been ordered to check in at the station as part of his bail conditions. File photo: AP

Journalists camped outside the police station in Brooklyn Police Station, where Oscar Pistorius was being held last week. The paralympian has been ordered to check in at the station as part of his bail conditions. File photo: AP

Published Feb 19, 2013

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Pretoria - Security officers shouted at local and international media pushing to get into the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday ahead of paralympian Oscar Pistorius's bail application.

He has been charged with the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius was brought to court early from the Brooklyn police cells where he had been in custody since his first appearance on Friday.

He was brought in through a different entrance to the one used on Friday, mostly escaping the glare of international publicity.

His family, including sister Aimee who was looking composed in the fray, and a cousin, were among the first to push through the throng at the security scanners.

Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, was shot dead at Pistorius's home in Silver Woods country estate in Pretoria last Thursday.

Her funeral takes place in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. Her body was flown down to the coastal town for a private family ceremony.

Steenkamp reportedly started dating Pistorius at the end of last year, the two being photographed at local red carpet events.

A campaign on facebook was doing the rounds with pictures of Steenkamp circulating, urging people to “like” the pictures in her memory.

At the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, people with court business unassociated with double amputee medal winner Pistorius were allowed through first, and the media, desperate for one of the 26 places set aside for them, sprinted to the court room once through the security check.

Other people expected are representatives of the Commission for Gender Equality who said on Monday they would be monitoring the case.

During his emotional first court appearance, Pistorius heard that the State intended arguing a case of pre-meditated murder against him.

On Friday, the court heard that the bail proceedings would be taken up with argument on whether the crime he is charged with falls under sections five or six of the Criminal Procedure Act.

If it is the latter, his lawyer has to show exceptional circumstances for him to be released on bail. - Sapa

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