Pretoria Magistrate Desmond Nair asked on Wednesday whether if murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius would flee South Africa if granted bail.
"Yes", replied investigating officer Hilton Botha. "It is possible, lifetime imprisonment is no joke."
He said he knew of instances where people had fled to avoid spending even five years in jail.
Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria on February 14. He has denied the charges.
Nair asked even if a person who had won Olympic gold would jeopardise his career before the case ended.
Botha maintained that life in prison was "no joke".
The bail hearing is postponed to Thursday. Pistorius would remain in custody again at the Brooklyn police station holding cells.
Pistorius bail hearing continues
Pretoria Magistrate Desmond Nair asked on Wednesday whether if murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius would flee South Africa if granted bail.
"Yes", replied investigating officer Hilton Botha. "It is possible, lifetime imprisonment is no joke."
He said he knew of instances where people had fled to avoid spending even five years in jail.
Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria on February 14. He has denied the charges.
Nair asked even if a person who had won Olympic gold would jeopardise his career before the case ended.
Botha maintained that life in prison was "no joke".
The bail hearing is postponed to Thursday. Pistorius would remain in custody again at the Brooklyn police station holding cells.
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