Reeva Steenkamp’s family: ‘we can get on with our lives now’

By Sarah Harvey

Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder, his culpable homicide conviction overturned. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of murder, his culpable homicide conviction overturned. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
The family of Reeva Steenkamp finally have closure after Oscar Pistorius is charged with murder.

The family of Reeva Steenkamp say they can finally get on with their lives after her former boyfriend Oscar Pistorius had his conviction upgraded to murder.

Pistorius, a former Paralympic and Olympic athlete, was released from prison and placed under house arrest on October 19, having spent one day shy of a year behind bars for shooting dead model Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013, in a case that attracted worldwide attention.

Pistorius is likely to now face a minimum of 15 years behind bars.

“This case involves a human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions,” Supreme Court Judge Eric Leach said as he read out the ruling.

In their appeal, prosecutors argued Pistorius should have been convicted of murder not culpable homicide  for firing four shots through a locked toilet door. They said he intended to kill Steenkamp and that she had fled to the toilet during a row.

Reeva Steenkamp.
Reeva Steenkamp

 

Reeva’s father Barry said both families could now get on with their lives.

“I’ve been watching since 7am,” he said from his pub in Port Elizabeth. “If you took note of what I’ve said right from the beginning, it’s not over yet, it’s not over yet… it’s over now.

“For us as a family, we can get on with our lives now and I hope his family can get on with their lives now,” he told the News24 site.

In a statement to media outlets, he added: “I am sure that Reeva is up there watching it and now she’s saying ‘justice was done’. I am sure she’ll be able to rest well now.”

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login