Father of Reeva Steenkamp testifies at Pistorius sentencing

The minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years, however Judge Thokozile Masipa has considerable powers of discretion.

“I must give evidence”, he responded. “But every day of my life is the same”.

He said that he had portraits of his daughter around his home, so that she would always be with her family, and that he would still speak to her. Come home. I released Reeva’s name was there.

Barry Steenkamp gave testimony about the wrenching personal grief he suffered in the wake of his daughter’s killing. “It must have been absolutely and utterly very bad”. “I ended up having a stroke”.

Pastor Marius Nel said she had been in contact with Pistorius and believed he would be better served helping disadvantaged children with sports training rather than spending years behind bars.

Walking in court on his stumps while dressed in sportswear emblazoned with the logos of his former sponsor Nike, Pistorius was unsteady at times, holding onto wooden desks and helped by a woman at one point.

It was hard to watch Steenkamp’s heart-wrenching testimony as he explained how he sits on his veranda smoking in the early hours of the morning and often hears his wife crying.

The prosecutor said the defence team apologized for the spat; Pistorius’ defence lawyer did not immediately comment on the allegation. “It devastated us”, he said.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level when he appeared at the London 2012 games and the downfall of a flag-bearer for the disabled gripped the world.

Nel: That’s the first version of him intentionally shooting at the person that we’ve had in this court.

He said: “What she must have gone through in those split seconds”. I think about it all the time. I visualise it. I can see it myself.

He also said Pistorius was subjected to several “traumatic and humiliating experiences” during the year he spent in prison, including being forced to shower while sitting on the concrete floor because of his disability. He said Pistorius was now “despondent and lethargic, disinvested, and leaves his future in the hands of God”.

Steenkamp said he and wife June had relied financially on their daughter, and he had “jabbed (himself)… with needles” to try to relive the pain that she went through. “He has to pay for his crime”, he said, his eyes brimming with tears and his voice shaking.

“Then I realised, that she mentioned Reeva”. And if he wasn’t there, I don’t know.

“June has forgiven (Pistorius)”, Barry Steenkamp said as he looked at Pistorius.

“June is also a Christian…”

“You have to understand that forgiveness doesn’t exonerate you from what you did”, he said in the Pretoria courtroom. “So that she can carry on with her life”, Barry responded. “It was an inspiration for him [her son] to see Oscar and the others run”, she said.