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18.30 We'll end our live coverage of the final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing here, with Aislinn Laing's full story on the the magistrate's decision to grant the athlete bail.

Thanks for sticking with us and good night!

18.23 Women are rightly furious that Pistorius has been freed on bail, Telegraph Olympics Editor Jacquelin Magnay has blogged.

I still can't fathom a judicial system that allows Pistorius, who has admitted to killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, not once with a stray bullet, but with multiple shots through a locked door, to enjoy his freedom...

Perhaps, ladies, our only hope in the relentless battle to combat violence against women is to have a female judge.

17.55 A local reporter captures journalists' effort to file their stories from Pretoria:

<noframe>Twitter: Barry Bateman - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> hazardous working conditions. <a href="http://t.co/yBxJDEIWNh" target="_blank">http://t.co/yBxJDEIWNh</a></noframe>

17.46 Barry Roux, the lawyer defending Pistorius, has said he is looking forward to "a cold beer". Of course his client, under the bail conditions, is banned from taking any such refreshment.

17.40 Under South Africa's creaking justice system it could be a year or more before the death of Reeva Steenkamp comes to trial, William Booth, a criminal lawyer in Cape Town, tells us.

Meanwhile, we have video footage of Pistorius's uncle Arnold speaking this afternoon:

17.09 While giving his reasons for granting bail, Mr Nair identified key flaws in the athlete’s story and in the prosecution’s case. They were:

Defence

Mr Nair found it “difficult to understand” why Pistorius “did not seek to verify who was inside the toilet” before firing four shots through its locked door.

He was puzzled that Reeva Steenkamp, on Pistorius’s account, did not “scream back” when the athlete shouted that there was an intruder in the house.

Mr Nair had “difficulty appreciating” why Pistorius should “venture further in danger” by entering the bathroom, where he thought an intruder was hiding.

Prosecution

It was “astounding” that Warrant Officer Hilton Botha thought his key witness lived “600 metres” from Pistorius’s house – and still could have heard an argument inside.

The police “blundered” over the substance found in Pistorius’s home, wrongly identifying it as testosterone.

W/O Botha “did not bother” to check Pistorius’s mobile phone to see whether the athlete had made emergency calls after shooting Miss Steenkamp.

16.50 The relief of Carl and Aimee Pistorius, the athlete's siblings, is plain to see.

16.48 Pistorius may have appeared emotionless as the magistrate announced he would be bailed, but according to AFP he only just managed to hold it together:

Following the magistrate’s decision, Pistorius was escorted to the holding area sobbing uncontrollably, as his brother Carl hugged sister Aimee and the broader family huddled in prayer.

16.23 An image has come in showing Pistorius and sister Aimee in the car leaving court. The athlete's jaw is still set and he appears to be clutching an iPad-like device in his lap as he stares straight ahead. Is that a scratch just in front of his left ear?

Picture: EPA

16.14 Indeed.

<noframe>Twitter: Barry Bateman - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> was going to spend another night in jail because the bail office was closed - this has apparently been sorted out. BB</noframe>

16.06 The Telegraph's Aislinn Laing has summed up the morning's proceedings in a dispatch from Pretoria this afternoon, saying that the bail decision is significant for all South Africa and predicting an outpouring of emotion:

15.57 A silver Land Rover believed to be carrying Pistorius has left the court in Pretoria. The Paralympian is free on bail and is not scheduled to appear in court again until June 4.

15.26 The ANC's Women's League, which yesterday berated the "special treatment" that Pistorius appeared to be receiving, are disappointed at the bail ruling, telling Reuters:

For now we will abide by the rules of law in this country but honestly we are saddened because women are being killed in this country.

15.11 Reuters news agency has also noted Pistorius's apparent lack of emotion at the result, filing a piece from court stating:

The decision by Magistrate Desmond Nair drew cheers from the athlete's family and supporters, although he appeared unmoved.

14.58 The Pistorius family is making a brief statement, reiterating that while they are relieved, they are also a family in mourning for the death of Reeva Steenkamp.

They also say they know the truth of what happened, and assert that the truth will prevail.

Here's the full text:

Although we are obviously relieved that Oscar has been granted bail, this is still a very sad time for the family of Reeva and for us. We are grateful that the Magistrate recognised the validity and strength of our application. As the family, we are convinced that Oscar’s version of what happened on that terrible night will prove to be true."

Friends of Miss Steenkamp, who were present in the courtroom, are speaking to media:

<noframe>Twitter: Lydia Polgreen - "I think it is important to remember that someone lost their life," Kim Myers, friend of Reeva, reacting to <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Pistorius" target="_blank">#Pistorius</a> bail.</noframe>

14.51 The hearing is adjourned, seconds after Pistorius spoke his first words in court today, replying simply: "Yes" when Nair asked if he understood the conditions.

Now, once he pays the 100,000 rand, he can walk free.

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - Oscar's sister hugs his lawyer Barry Roux</noframe>

14.49 His family may have reacted joyfully, but for Pistorius it seems to be a different matter, according to Kate Forbes of the BBC:

<noframe>Twitter: Kate Forbes - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> looks exhausted, hardly jubilant</noframe>

Local reporter Aldrin Sampear agrees:

<noframe>Twitter: Aldrin Sampear - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> does not really seem happy</noframe>

14.45 The next court date will be June 4. But in a twist, Nair has overruled the state request and upped the bail dramatically - to 1 million rand, or roughly £74,000. Of that, 100,000 rand must be paid up front as a guarantee. The rest must be paid within the week.

He must also get permission to travel anywhere outside Pretoria, must surrender his travel documents, and - perhaps unsurprisingly - must surrender his firearms.

He is also banned from drinking alcohol, and must report to a police station every Monday and Friday. He can not communicate with witnesses.

14.43 The address Pistorius will be staying at during his bail will not be disclosed in court - presumably because of the massive interest.

14.40 Aislinn Laing, from inside the court, tells us:

Carl Pistorius emerges from holding cell, tells me his brother's "relieved. I'm relieved, but it's a long road ahead."

14.32 Barry Roux, Pistorius' lawyer, says the bail posted is around 250,000 rand (£18,455).

14.30 Next questions: Where will Pistorius live while he is awaiting trial? And how is his emotional state?

14.28 And the Pistorius family has gone into a huddle to pray.

14.24 A shout from Pistorius' family, and the court adjourns for another five minutes.

14.24 "I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail"

14.21 If the police had bothered to check whether Pistorius actually had a property in Italy, and the defence had failed to mention it, that would have counted against him. But they didn't.

14.18 And the magistrate has gone off on another detour. Is he trying to break a court record?

14.16 From Aislinn Laing in court:

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a>: Stark reminder of what's happened here - Reeva Steenkamp's flatmate sitting to my left looking crushed</noframe>

14.15 We are taking another detour through some case history to back up Magistrate Nair's argument.

14.11 Poor old Warrant Officer Botha has not "spent as much time as he should have" to show that the accused is violent. No medical records etc. Firing a gun in a restaurant is not enough to establish that Pistorius has a tendency to violence, says the magistrate.

14.09 Will Pistorius be a danger to others though? "The accused has shown tendencies of aggression. It is not in dispute that he threatened to break someone's legs". But the magistrate says now there is a case against him, the situation is different.

14.08 Again it seems that Magistrate Nair is sceptical about the idea that Pistorius would flee trial. "I cannot find that it has been established that the accused is a flight risk".

14.05 From Aislinn Laing in court:

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - Temperature in the court has soared, fuggy air could be cut with a knife. Magistrate playing for dramatic effect by speeding up <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Pistorius" target="_blank">#Pistorius</a></noframe>

14.03 "But equally the state cannot show its case is so strong and watertight that the applicant must feel the need to flee".

14.02 "The defence has failed in showing there is a weakness in the state case to the extent it can be construed an exceptional circumstance (for bail)"

13.59 An hour and a half in now and Magistrate Nair is getting to the nitty gritty, saying he has several problems with Pistorius' version of events. He says he has difficulty understanding why Pistorius did not check where Reeva was, why he did not call out to her in the toilet, and why he would even go into the toilet, given that he knew there was an intruder there who could attack him before he had the chance to respond. "There are improbabilities that need to be explored".

13.57 The magistrate separates the prosecution's case from the hopeless performance of Mr Botha. "He is not the state case". No mention so far of the other charges facing Mr Botha.

13.54 Will Warrant Officer Botha ever be given another major case to investigate?

13.51 Mr Botha is being heavily criticised for his bungling. His perception of distance from the witness to the crime was "astounding", the magistrate says.

<noframe>Twitter: Daniel Howden - Remarkable trashing of Hilton Botha from Magistrate <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Nair" target="_blank">#Nair</a> continues. It wasn't just persistence of defence that unravelled his testimony</noframe>

13.50 After being told there were offshore accounts, he did not deem it necessary to seize the memory stick with the information on it.

13.49 Poor Mr Botha. "He may well have contaminated the crime scene by not wearing protective covers on his shoes", he could have established if Pistorius had a history of violence. He blundered on the testosterone issue. "Did he write testosterone in his notebook? No. Did he write in in his clipboard? No."

13.48 "He does not verify the cell phone information of the deceased. It is of crucial importance to show that there were calls or sms that might have been made up to 2am".

13.47 Magistrate Nair now picks apart Mr Botha: "He made several errors and concessions. He didn't bother to ask for the other cellphones that might have been present, nor did he check the records given by the defence."

13.46 "If the defence had succeeded in showing the state case to be weak, then that is a ground that falls into exceptional circumstances."

13.45 We're back, and we are going through what the "exceptional circumstances" are that would enable him to grant bail.

13.37 The court adjourns for five minutes. Sighs all round. Is this a loo break?

13.34 Magistrate Nair confirms Pistorius will be charged with premeditated murder

"I would venture to say at this point in the hearing, I am not as much seized with the issue of finding beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant had committed a premeditated murder," said Magistrate Nair.

Instead, he explains, it is his responsibility to make sure the prosecution can make a prima facie case at trial and that he is satisfied that it has done so, having presented "enough" evidence.

13.34 "I have heard extensive and thorough argument" that this is not a premeditated murder, says Magistrate Nair.

13.30 "The issue of the bail hearing is not guilt, but where the interests of justice lie," says the magistrate, as he hits the hour mark with no sign of slowing down or reaching a conclusion.

13.26 I think we can say that Magistrate Nair is enjoying his moment in the spotlight. And is determined to be as thorough (and long-winded) as possible. Pistorius, meanwhile, seems on the edge emotionally.

<noframe>Twitter: Nomsa Maseko - This is not the normal/usual length of bail judgement in South Africa. Attention to detail is also unusual <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a></noframe>

13.23 Magistrate Nair is now clarifying under what conditions bail is granted. And indeed the history of the concept, reaching all the way back to the Boer War.

13.21 Magistrate Nair is still simply summing up the evidence that was presented. He has not weighed in with his own opinion yet.

13.18 The magistrate is rounding up the long list of fumbles and concessions that Mr Botha was forced to make by the defence.

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - Both Oscar's dad Henk&amp; his uncle Arnold have their heads down, gripping legs. Sister Aimee seems to be praying, lips moving <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a></noframe>

13.16 "Mr Botha conceded to the extent that the defence version was that the applicant had shot from the entrance to the bathroom. He did not indicate that the ballistics statement to him, that the shots were fired from 1.5m into the bathroom, were untrue," reports the magistrate.

13.12 One key to this case, when we get to the trial, will be the angle at which the bullets were shot through the bathroom door. Mr Botha said the shots had been fired "through the top of the door at a downwards angle", suggesting that Pistorius had time, before he fired, to put his prosthetic legs on.

13.11 This summing up could take at least an hour. Possibly more.

13.10 There was one iPhone 4 and one iPhone 5 in the bathroom, on the mat.

13.08 One of the requirements for a gun licence in South Africa, we are reminded, is the ability to judge when to shoot and when not to shoot.

13.05 Now we are moving onto the evidence presented by the prosecution. It's Warrant Officer Hilton Botha's testimony again.

13.04 "Reeva said Oscar was a great guy and treated her like gold. She said the relationship was moving fast, but she was in love with him," says one female friend.

13.00 The magistrate is reading out the statements of Pistorius' friends about his relationship with Reeva Steenkamp.

12.59 Pistorius is quietly sobbing again.

<noframe>Twitter: Phillip de Wet - In defence of us vultures, our primary interest in <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> level of crying is whether it will require a break in proceedings.</noframe>

12.58 Magistrate Nair is summing up the defence case, who argue that Pistorius is no flight risk, will not contact witnesses, has no propensity to violence, and will hand in his travel documents.

12.56 Sky's Alex Crawford is keeping a close eye on the Pistorius family:

<noframe>Twitter: Alex Crawford - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> All three Pistorius' siblings now looking down. Carl has his body bent over. Father is biting his lip</noframe>

12.54 "He slept with his 9mm parabellum under his bed", the magistrate says, with an old-fashioned flourish. Also worth noting there was an obscure Japanese rock band called 9mm Parabellum Bullet.

12.54 But I suggest you let me sum it up for you.

12.52 Click on the link above if you want to listen to the audio feed live.

12.50 The magistrate is explaining why Pistorius was kept in a police cell, rather than remanded to prison, while waiting for the bail hearing. He says Pistorius' lawyers needed to easily reach their client and that he worried there would be a bureaucratic delay if the athlete had been held in prison.

12.47 Magistrate Nair: "I ruled that the matter be heard as a schedule six offence". The defence argued that the crime should be downgraded from this level.

12.43 "The applicant sometimes comes out of the police cells and stands in the dock and what happens is a large contingent of journalists and photographers flash at him and it raises the picture that the accused is some kind of species the world has never seen before. I appreciate, however, the need for freedom of expression and I have tried to accommodate the press wherever possible," says Magistrate Nair.

12.38 Magistrate Nair is explaining why he has allowed cameras and microphones into the court.

12.37 And we've started.

12.33 Before we get underway, here's a summing up from Aislinn Laing in court

I think Pistorius will get bail - and that's the generally-held view of people watching this hearing. Desmond Nair, Pretoria's Chief Magistrate, has tried to play Devil's Advocate on both sides of the argument but on balance, I think he'll come down in favour of Mr Pistorius. His question yesterday to Barry Roux, Mr Pistorius' lawyer, was most telling. While discussing the public mood about the case, he asked Mr Roux anxiously: "Do you think there will be shock if the accused is released on bail?" Mr Roux responded: "I think there will be shock if he is not."

Mr Nair faces what he himself described as an "unenviable" decision. If he grants bail, he will come under fire from womens' groups - two members of the ANC's Womens' League have been in court throughout the hearing and are likely to summon their members to make merry hell if Mr Pistorius walks free. Following the particularly brutal rape and murder of a Cape teenager earlier this month, there have been calls - acknowledged by President Jacob Zuma in his recent State of the Nation address - for tougher action against those who abuse women and children.

If he denies the athlete bail, he will be pilloried by his many fans the world-over, and potentially take flak from his increasingly well-oiled PR machine, run by former Sun editor Stuart Higgins. There have also been suggestions that he can appeal the decision at the High Court.

To recap - the prosecution say Mr Pistorius should remain in custody because, through previous incidents such as his accidentally firing a gun in a Johannesburg restaurant then persuading a friend to take the rap, he said he has shown he does not take responsibility for his actions, and would thus pose a flight risk. He pointed to high-profile cases such as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who absconded while on bail and sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, to prove that even world-famous people can be fugitives of justice.

Mr Pistorius' lawyer has responded that the defendant loves his country, and wants to clear his name in court. He said that practically, life on the run would be too difficult for him, since he needs regular access to medical care for his stumps and prosthetic legs.

He added: "If he goes through airport security there's always a commotion and the system reacts. That shows you how difficult it is."

Karyn Maughan, legal journalist for the rolling South African television station E News Channel Africa, said Mr Nair would probably set the bar high with bail conditions, asking for a surety of between R100,000 to R200,000 and regular visits to police.

"To avoid any accusations of leniency, he will really make his life hell," she said. "It will basically be like house arrest."

She said that the entire bail application process, and Mr Pistorius' decision to present his version of events in an affidavit, was a risky strategy. It means the prosecution can now work to disprove every aspect of his defence in forensic detail.

Equally, the debacle with Warrant Officer Botha, who saw old charges he was facing re-enacted the day after he gave a distastrous account of the police evidence on the witness stand, has prompted the country's police chiefs to dedicate some of their most senior officers, working with more resources, on the case.

"He may have won some public sympathy but it could considerably harm his chances at trial," she said.

As for what Mr Pistorius will do if he is released, we've heard he will likely head to a house belonging to one of his uncles.

I've been told that there will be "absolutely no interviews" with the athlete himself, but his family may conduct one or two at a later stage.

12.31 Reeva Steenkamp's relatives say they will not be making any comment after the decision, and that they are simply in court "to represent Reeva".

12.30 From Sky's Alex Crawford

<noframe>Twitter: Alex Crawford - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> Family looking anxious. Defence lawyer appearing very relaxed, joking with court sketch artists</noframe>

12.30 We should have live audio shortly.

12.29 Journalists and legal teams are in court as we prepare for the magistrate's verdict.

11.55 Our chief foreign correspondent in London David Blair comments:

"If he is granted bail, that would be a highly unusual, although not unprecedented decision. He has been accused of premeditated murder under schedule six of South Africa's criminal procedure act. That means the onus is on Pistorius to show why he deserves bail - and it can only be granted under "exceptional circumstances". Nonetheless the mood music suggests that the magistrate will probably find in his favour."

11.42 If Pistorius is released on bail he will be free to go home this afternoon.

11.30 Two tweets from journalists at the court sum it all up:

<noframe>Twitter: andrew harding - Yet to meet anyone who thinks <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> won't get bail. Prosecution simply pushing defence to reveal their case before full trial.</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: Phillip de Wet - Cops have blocked a lane to traffic in front of court. Just in case <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> gets bail. "Must be fast" exit, they say.</noframe>

11.23 The Guardian has a first person story about what life is like as a paraplegic in a South African jail.

"Living here is very hard. We are 88 men in this cell which is meant for 32. Sometimes there are more. Twelve people sleep in two bunks pushed together, that's six on the top and six on the bottom. I have my own bed on the bottom, which is a privilege. Luckily, I don't have to share because of my medical status.

"I can't rely on other inmates for help because they change all the time. People come and go so I have to help myself. My upper body is very strong so I just pull my legs along the floor. There's only one toilet and one shower for this cell. It's so crowded people even sleep on 'sponges' on the toilet floor. Sometimes there's no water in the toilet and it doesn't work. The smell and the flies are horrible. The food in the kitchen is also covered in flies.

"It's a big mission for me to get food. It takes 30 minutes to drag my legs to the kitchen. That's why I don't have breakfast, I just drink water. I only go to the kitchen once a day for lunch, which is at 11am. The warders in the kitchen won't allow other prisoners to bring me food. They say I have to fetch it myself.

11.01 The journalists in court have cogitated and ruminated:

<noframe>Twitter: Daniel Howden - Straw poll among the press comes down on the side of bail with tough conditions with 1.5hrs until <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> ruling in Pretoria</noframe>

10.40 The New Yorker has a good blog summing up the incompetence of the South African police investigating the case:

"Reading accounts of the proceedings, one wonders how much expertise South African investigators and courts actually have in dealing with cases of violence against women, even though, as Charlayne Hunter-Gault has written, the number of attacks is unsettlingly high."

Oscar Pistorius's father Henke (right) with his children Carl and Aimee in the magistrate court in Pretoria (AP)

10.22 If Pistorius is granted bail, and a lot of the journalists in court are confident he will be, there will be a media scrum outside the court as he walks free.

<noframe>Twitter: Phillip de Wet - Suspicious number of motorbikes outside court. Almost like the paparazzi are expecting an <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> chase today.</noframe>

10.14 Alexi Eliseev, a local journalist at the court, neatly sums up what the decision hangs on:

<noframe>Twitter: Alex Eliseev - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a> As we experience the longest 2.5 hours ever, we ask: Did OP show "exceptional circumstances" to warrant bail?</noframe>

10.04 Magistrate Nair says he has to make an "unenviable" decision.

Photographers take photos of Oscar Pistorius as he stands in the dock during his bail hearing (AP)

10.02 Here is the rather optimistic Ampie Louw, the man who trained Oscar Pistorius to Paralympic glory, saying that he hopes to have his man back on the athletics field next week.

09.59 Magistrate Nair promises a bail decision will arrive at 14.30 local time, roughly two and half hours from now.

09.47 The defence is back up, describing the frantic effort that Pistorius made to save his girlfriend's life. How much more back and forth will there be? It feels like we're treading back over the arguments from yesterday and the day before.

09.38 Oh but wait. This from ITV's man in court:

<noframe>Twitter: Rohit Kachroo - <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Pistorius" target="_blank">#Pistorius</a>. Pace of proceedings frustrating many relatives. Not clear whether decision on bail will be today, Monday or some other time</noframe>

09.36 The court is back, and there's an hour and a half left on the clock. Are we about to get a judgement?

09.15 Magistrate Nair seems skeptical over the argument that Pistorius would be a flight risk: Would he be "ducking and diving every day? On those prostheses?" he asks.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel (left) and Oscar Pistorius's defence team including lawyer Barry Roux (right) (EPA)

09.09 The state has wrapped up its case, saying that Pistorius should not get special treatment for being disabled or famous, and the court has adjourned for ten minutes.

08.55 Gerrie Nel, the prosecutor, says it does not make sense that Pistorius went downstairs, after the shooting,

08.49 The prosecution underlines that this is a test case, and that the court must be seen to be taking violence against women seriously.

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - Nel: "the degree of violence used in this case is horrific." <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a></noframe>

08.41 The prosecutor says: "I'm not saying the murder of Reeva Steenkamp was planned days in advance, or weeks in advance". But he says Pistorius "wanted to kill".

08.39 Magistrate Desmond Nair asks: If Pistorius was trying to make the crime look like a break-in, why didn't he break a window or fake some signs of an intruder?

Oscar Pistorius appears in court on the 4th day of his bail hearing (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)

08.22 From Aislinn Laing in court:

"The prosecutor: From every angle, Oscar Pistorius' story is improbable. It's always easy to give a version if there is only one person there".

08.20 The prosecutor begins by suggesting that in order to believe Pistorius' version of events, you need to believe that Reeva Steenkamp did not cry or shout out.

08.11 We are underway, and, for the first time, the court has allowed live audio today.

<noframe>Twitter: Aislinn Laing - Live recording of the court proceedings will be allowed today. Cameras still not. <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=OscarPistorius" target="_blank">#OscarPistorius</a></noframe>

08.03 The hearing is about to begin.

07.45 Pistorius' family has arrived at court. His defence lawyers have also entered.

Oscar Pistorius enters the courtroom in Pretoria (ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)

07.18 Ampie Louw, Pistorius' coach, is a remarkably optimistic man. Not only does he think the athlete will get bail, but he's hoping Pistorius will be back in "light training" next week.

07.14 It should take around an hour and a half for Gerrie Nel, the prosecutor, to wrap up his case. Then there will probably be an adjournment and hopefully, after that, a decision on whether Pistorius can be allowed bail. It is possible, however, that the magistrate will reserve his judgement for another day.

07.05 BBC correspondent Andrew Harding tweets that the corporation may carry live coverage of the judgment:

<noframe>Twitter: andrew harding - Negotiating possible live tv coverage of <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=oscarpistorius" target="_blank">#oscarpistorius</a> judgment.</noframe>

06:45: From Aislinn Laing outside court:

It's quite quiet at Pretoria Central Magistrates, which is strange given that today is probably D Day - the day Mr Pistorius finds out if he'll get bail. Carl Pistorius, the defendant's brother, has arrived in a black shirt.

He wouldn't comment on whether this was an indication of his expectations for his brother's bail. As to whether the magistrate will make his decision today, it depends who you believe.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told me he thought the magistrate would take his time and come back with a decision on Monday, caveating this by saying he would be mindful about extending Mr Pistorius' anxious wait in custody over the weekend. The magistrate's clerk today me he would "definitely" make his decision today, having had Thursday evening to think about it. We're lined up waiting to go into court now.

05.10 Yesterday saw scenes of high drama as the officer heading the murder investigation was abruptly pulled off the case following charges he himself had committed murder. Aislinn Laing reports:

The police officer leading the investigation into Oscar Pistorius was replaced on Thursday after it emerged that he faces seven charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a crowded minibus.

Warrant Officer Hilton Botha, who gave a shaky performance in the witness box on Wednesday, has been succeeded by General Vineshkumar Moonoo, a 32-year veteran of the South African police force.

The move came after details of the incident in Dec 2011 emerged, in which W/O Botha allegedly opened fire on a minibus carrying seven passengers.

He was chasing the vehicle because he believed that a suspected murderer was on board. The policeman is understood to have begun shooting when the bus tried to force his own car off the road.

Lieutenant-General Vineshkumar Moonoo (left) will take over the Oscar Pistorius case from investigating officer Hilton Botha (AFP/Getty Images)

05.05 Today is the first of what will be many, many judgement days for Pistorius as a judge rules whether to grant bail while he awaits the start of his murder trial. We're expecting proceedings to begin at Pretoria Magistrate Court at around 8am GMT.