Manslaughter: Oscar Pistorius walks out free….granted bail till October

Oscar Pistorius was allowed to walk free from court today and back home with his family after he was released on bail. It had been a tense and harrowing 2-day verdict ruling for him in court.

He was earlier this morning found guilty of culpable homicide over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and faces up to 15 years in prison. He will now be sentenced on October 13.

Gerrie Nel, the state prosecutor, had argued that the athlete was a suicide risk and should not be freed on extended bail because he could flee the country.

Citing a recent nightclub fracas involving Pistorius, Nel argued that the double amputee had previously been suicidal.

But the Paralympian’s counsel, Barry Roux, said his client had complied with previous bail conditions and that there was no reason to remand him into custody ahead of sentencing.

But Judge Thokozile Masipa said that if there were genuine concerns over Pistorius skipping bail, the state should have raised them before.

Masipa had Thursday ruled that there was insufficient proof to convict him of murdering Steenkamp but today found him guilty of culpable homicide, calling the killing “negligent”.

The South African equivalent of manslaughter carries a maximum 15 years in prison and Pistorius faces five more years for firing a gun in a restaurant in January 2013.

It was gathered that Pistorius has sold three of his properties and now lives with family members.