Pistorius sobs as bail ruling read

Olympic athlete, Oscar Pistorius , in court Friday Feb. 22, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa, for his bail hearing charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The defense and prosecution both completed their arguments with the magistrate soon to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he must stay behind bars pending trial. AP

PRETORIA – South African star athlete Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, on Friday sobbed as a magistrate started reading out a ruling on his bail application.

His shoulders shook visibly as magistrate Desmond Nair summarised the accused’s statement in a hushed Pretoria courtroom.

Nair had to pause briefly asking Pistorius: “Are you ok there?”

The magistrate read out detailed testimony of Pistorius’ version of events on the night his model and law graduate girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was killed at his heavily secured home.

“The deceased died in his arms,” Nair said.

Pistorius later regained his composure as the magistrate delved into the history of bail law in South Africa — and cited 17th century English common law.

Nair said he would look at the application in the context of a pre-meditated murder.

“I will approach it in that vein,” said Nair.