Steenkamp family rejected ‘blood money’ from Pistorius, court hears

Oscar Pistorius offered the family of Reeva Steenkamp $33,500 as compensation for the death of his former girlfriend, a court has heard. But the Steenkamp’s reportedly rejected the payment which they called “blood money” and promised to hand back other payments Pistorius had given them. Pistroius’ probation officer Annette Vergeer revealed details of the payments on the second day of the athlete’s sentencing hearing in Pretoria which was watched by his father Henke and Ms Steenkamp’s mother June. Ms Vergeer said Pistorius had been paying $560 per month to the Steenkamps as a form of maintenance, or compensation, though the payments stopped a while ago.

He sold his last asset, his motor vehicle and requested the amount be paid into the account of the Steenkamp’s lawyers should they wish to accept the amount. I was informed they did not want the amount of money offered by the accused.

Pistorius’ probation officer Annette Vergeer

Suggesting the athlete was genuinely remorseful for the killing, she told the court he sold one of his cars for $33,500 and offered it to the Steenkamps as a lump sum. Pistorius, 27, was cleared of murdering his former girlfriend but found guilty of culpable homicide – the equivalent of manslaughter in the UK. The double-amputee Olympian could receive a fine and a suspended jail sentence or as many as 15 years in prison for the convictions. The hearing continues tomorrow.

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