News Digest

He must pay: Reeva’s father gives powerful evidence in Oscar Pistorius hearing

The grieving father of murdered model Reeva Steenkamp has given powerful testimony at the sentencing hearing of paralympian Oscar Pistorius. Barry Steenkamp, 73, frequently broke down and struggled for composure as he demanded Pistorius must pay for his crime. He said, while his wife, June, had forgiven the man known as the Blade Runner, he still felt it was too soon. But, as their eyes met across the courtroom in South Africa, Barry Steenkamp said he would like to hear from the athlete himself “one day, not here, not now” about what happened on Valentine’s Day in 2013 at the house in Pretoria.

It’s been very difficult for me m’lady to forgive…Oscar has to pay for that he did. He has to pay for it.

Barry Steenkamp

Pistorius is into the second day of his sentencing hearing after his manslaughter conviction for shooting dead Reeva, 29, through a closed bathroom door was upgraded to murder. Yesterday, the High Court in Pretoria was told the 29-year-old athlete was a “broken man” who should not be jailed further. Today, Barry Steenkamp took to the stand to insist his daughter’s killer should pay for his crime which, he believes, happened after an argument. He also called for pictures of Reeva’s injuries be published so everyone could see the pain she must have suffered. Mr Steenkamp sobbed as he described how much he missed his daughter: “Every Christmas is filled with pain. A chair and setting for Reeva is prepared and left empty.”