Reeva’s parents June and Barry Steenkamp of Port Elizabeth in South Africa shared their grief with viewers and made it clear they believe Pistorius shot her after a heated argument. The tabloid newspaper Daily Voice reports their interview with Sunday Night comes just days after Reeva’s 32nd birthday last Wednesday and the halting of Pistorius’s release on parole by Justice Minister Michael Masutha for review.
Pistorius is serving a five-year prison term at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison (formerly known as Pretoria Central Prison) for shooting Reeva dead through a locked bathroom door on February, 14, 2013. The 28-year-old’s conviction on culpable homicide is being appealed by the National Prosecuting Authority, with a hearing set for November.
Meanwhile it has emerged that Pistorius could wait up to four more months to be released from prison. It is alsol unclear whether his family will approach the courts to have him released from prison sooner. The athlete was scheduled for released last Friday under correction supervision after serving a sixth of his five year sentence.
What was supposed to be his first night back at home after 10 months in prison was thwarted by a petition from the Progressive Women’s Movement to Justice Minister Michael Masutha. Masutha made the surprise announcement that he had referred the Parole Board’s decision for review believing that it had considered the matter prematurely. The Pistorius family say they have not yet made a decision on whether to challenge the minister but it is considering its options.
Laste week the Steenkamp family released a statement to the media saying it will not be conducting any interviews with the media, yet surprised many with their latest revelations in Australian TV.
In the interview, Reeva’s father claimed his model daughter wanted to leave the Paralympian.
“Her bag was packed that night [she was killed],” Barry told Sunday Night.
“What came out in court is not the truth, we know what we heard there is not right.
“He got angry, she went off to the toilet, locked herself inside, and then… him pulling out the gun and shooting… When he realised that had happened, then he couldn’t stop and he had to carry on until it was finished.”
June said were she to see him (Pistorius) again, she would want him to know that he ruined their lives.
“I would say, ‘All I want you to realise is that you have ruined our lives. You have taken her life, her possible marriage or having a baby. Our grandchild…’ I just want to say that,” she said.
