Appeal over Oscar Pistorius bail conditions may lead to athlete competing abroad ahead of trial

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius are appealing against some of the Olympic athlete's bail restrictions in a court in the South African capital today.

Pistorius's lawyers say the double-amputee runner, who is charged with murder over the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14, is being treated as a flight risk even though a magistrate ruled last month that he was not when he released Pistorius on bail.

Lawyers argue that Pistorius should be allowed to leave South Africa with written permission. They also say that forcing him to report regularly to a police station and a ban on him consuming alcohol, among other conditions, are "unwarranted".

Prosecutors say they will oppose any relaxing of Pistorius's bail restrictions.

Pistorius was not attending the appeal hearing at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

AP