Justice for Reeva: Pistorius sentence is too short, says mother

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother has told Sky News she believes Oscar Pistorius should have spent longer in prison for shooting dead her daughter. The Paralypic athelete is currently under house arrest at his uncle’s luxurious home in Pretoria after serving less than a year in prison for killing his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day 2013. Her mother, June Steenkamp, has travelled to Bloemfontein to support South African state prosecutors who will try to convince an appeal court panel that the judge at the Blade Runner’s trial last year reached the wrong verdict.

He killed her and he’s been in jail for 11 months and it’s too short a time for taking someone’s life.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June

At the end of the eight-month trial, Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled the runner did not intend to kill model Ms Steenkamp when he fired four times through a locked toilet door at his home. She believed the athlete’s defence that he mistook his girlfriend for a burglar. Mrs Steenkamp said: "And even though I don’t want to hurt him in any way, he has to face the truth … it’s justice for Reeva.“ The state prosecutors want the appeal court panel of five judges to set aside that original conviction - and instead rule that the athlete murdered his girlfriend.

She lost her life, her career, having a child, her wedding and we lost her. It’s sending a bad message to the public, especially the women of South Africa, that 11 months is enough time for killing somebody.

June Steenkamp

Africa Pistorius