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Oscar Pistorius: Olympic athlete granted bail in girlfriend's shooting death

Oscar Pistorius appears in court on Feb. 22, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa, for his bail hearing charged with the shooting death of his girlfriend AP Photo

(CBS/AP) PRETORIA, South Africa - Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was granted bail on Friday pending trial in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

PICTURES: Olympic athlete charged with murder

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair made the ruling Friday after four days of arguments from prosecution and defense in Pistorius' bail hearing. The decision drew cheers from Pistorius' family and supporters at the Pretoria magistrate's court, although the athlete was unmoved when the decision was read.

Pistorius is charged with one count of premeditated murder in the Valentine's Day killing of 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and budding reality TV star. He said he accidentally shot her, thinking she was a dangerous intruder inside his home, lurking in a toilet stall off his bedroom.

Prosecutors said he intended to kill Steenkamp and charged him with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed a loud argument between the two.

Nair said Pistorius' affidavit, in which he gave his version of the events of the shooting, helped his application for bail in Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

Pistorius made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. Steenkamp was one of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for two years running and appeared in countless international and national advertisements.

Pistorius' bail was set at 1 million South African rand, approximately $113,000. His murder trial was postponed until June 4.

Complete coverage of Oscar Pistorius on Crimesider

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