South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was on Tuesday granted bail in his appeal against the murder conviction of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, according to the BBC. This comes five days after the South African supreme court of appeal overturned an earlier conviction of culpable homicide to murder after an appeal from the state.

Pistorius, who had earlier been sentenced for a five-year jail term for culpable homicide and was living under house arrest in Pretoria, appeared in court to appeal the murder conviction. In his appeal, his lawyers argued that that the athlete should be granted bail during the time-period of this case. Pistorius faces a minimum of 15 years of imprisonment for the murder conviction.

Presiding judge Audrey Ledwaba stated that Pistorius was not considered a "flight risk" and would be released on bail, pending the payment of 10,000 rand. The other conditions of his bail include remaining under house arrest, being able to leave his house only between seven in the morning and mid-day, being electronically tagged and having to hand over his passport.

The hearing will take place in April next year. Pistorius is accused of murdering Steenkamp in February 2013, by shooting her through a bathroom door. However, Pistorius claims that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.