'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius challenges bail restrictions in murder case

PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius' lawyers on Thursday challenged bail restrictions imposed on the Olympian double-amputee after he was charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.  

Pistorius' legal team objected to him not being allowed to travel outside of South Africa even though a magistrate said he was not a flight risk when granting him 1 million rand ($108,000) bail.

They argued in court that the athlete was essentially under house arrest, and doesn't want to "jump on a plane" but may want to compete abroad sometime in the future.  

They are also challenging an alcohol ban and a ruling that Pistorius cannot speak with residents at the gated estate where he shot Steenkamp dead early on Valentine's Day.

The double-amputee denies murdering Steenkamp and says he shot her by mistake, fearing an intruder was in his home. Prosecutors say he killed her intentionally following an argument.

There was no sign of Pistorius or his family in Pretoria High Court on Thursday. Pistorius was not obliged to appear. 

The court was expected to announce its decision at 12:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m. ET).

On Wednesday, the sprinter's brother also appeared in court on trial for the death of a woman in a road collision in 2008.

Carl Pistorius arrived Wednesday at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg to face a charge of culpable homicide, or unlawful, negligent killing.

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Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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