After murder conviction, Oscar Pistorius released to house arrest until April on $700 bail

Oscar Pistorius pays less than $700 in bail and returns to house arrest until April — (Image credit: Mujahid safodien/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, South African Judge Aubrey Ledwaba released former double-amputee Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius on bail, ordering him to house arrest at his uncle's mansion, after the Supreme Court of Appeals convicted him of murder last week for shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. Ledwaba, who had convicted Pistorius of the lesser charge of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, set bail at $692 and ordered Pistorius to keep within a 12-mile radius of his uncle's mansion, turn over his passport, and stay inside the mansion except for mornings until sentencing on April 18. At that point, Pistorius faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, unless the judge finds exceptional circumstance.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.