Oscar Pistorius granted bail following murder conviction

Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock in a courtroom at the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2015. Pistorius wants to take his case to the Constitutional Court, challenging an appeals court that convicted him of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the Olympian’s lawyer said. (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool)

PRETORIA, South Africa — A South African judge has granted bail to Oscar Pistorius, pending sentencing for his murder conviction.

The country’s Supreme Court of Appeal convicted him on Thursday of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, overturning a lower court’s conviction of the lesser crime of manslaughter. The appeals court then said the double-amputee Olympian should be sentenced by the lower court.

Judge Aubrey Ledwaba of the trial court granted Pistorius bail of $692 and extended his house arrest until his sentencing hearing, which he set for April 18. The judge said Pistorius will be placed under electronic monitoring and may only leave his uncle’s home between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. T

Pistorius’ chief defense lawyer, Barry Roux, said his client plans to appeal his conviction to the Constitutional Court.