Oscar Pistorius trial: Reeva Steenkamp's death 'end of the world'

Pistorius would be "more vulnerable" than an able-bodied man in jail, a defence witness said

Reeva Steenkamp's cousin has recounted her happy memories of their childhood together, and her pain at hearing that the South African model had been shot dead by boyfriend Oscar Pistorius. 

Kim Martin told Pistorius's sentencing her death was "the end of the world". She spoke of Reeva's parents' financial problems, and the fact that she had taken up modelling to support them.

The BBC's Andrew Harding says this is the first time the court has heard about Reeva outside her relationship.

Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month, but was cleared of murder. He faces up to 15 years in jail, although the judge may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.

Ms Martin was the first prosecution witness as they outlined their case for Pistorius to serve a jail term for the killing.

The defence has argued that Pistorius should not be jailed for the killing - a suggestion branded as "shockingly inappropriate" by the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel.

The sentencing hearing has adjourned and is due to resume on Thursday. Mr Nel said that he would call three or four witnesses.

'Strong bond' 

In 60 seconds: Key developments in the trial of Oscar Pistorius With her voice breaking, Ms Martin said Reeva was the first baby she had ever held. "There was a very strong bond from a very young age," she said.

Ms Martin said Reeva was meticulous and hard working at school and that "family was everything to her".

She said Reeva gave her first pay cheque as a model to her parents to pay for her schooling, because of their financial difficulties. Ms Steenkamp's father, Barry, wept as Ms Martin spoke.


Ms Martin remembered how she heard on her car radio that Pistorius had shot his girlfriend, and "hoped to God" that he was cheating on her cousin and had shot someone else.

Barry Steenkamp wept as his niece gave evidence

She told the court how she went to her mother's house: "The doors opened and my mother was hysterical and that's when I knew it was true.

"That was for me the end of the world. Everything was just a blur from then onwards." The theme of the Steenkamps' finances was first raised earlier in the day, when the family issued a statement via their lawyer Dup de Bruyn over revelations in court on Tuesday that Pistorius had made them monthly payments.

It had been revealed that the Steenkamps accepted payments of 6,000 rand (£340; $540) from March 2013 to September 2014.

The statement said: "We were contacted soon [after Ms Steenkamp's death] by Mr Pistorius' lawyers with an offer that Mr Pistorius would contribute an amount... towards the parents' rental and living expenses." The statement said Mr de Bruyn had also approached the Pistorius legal team over a possible civil settlement and was made an offer of $34,000.

"When the parents were made aware of this offer, they considered it carefully but decided, for various reasons, that they did not want any payment from Mr Pistorius," the statement said. "This is also why we were instructed to advise that no civil claim would be instituted."

Any money received from Mr Pistorius - about $10,000 - would be paid back, it said. Defence lawyer Barry Roux told the court on Wednesday his client had given the money "unconditionally" and did not want it back.

The Steenkamps' statement said they were surprised the payments had come out in court as it was the athlete who had asked for them to remain secret.

'Carefully considered' Wednesday's hearing had begun with Mr Nel continuing to cross-examine social worker Annette Vergeer.

The defence witness on Tuesday said that Pistorius should be placed under house arrest rather than sent to prison, because he would be "a lot more vulnerable than the normal man" in jail. Mr Nel said her opinion of a sentence of house arrest plus community service "cannot be considered".

"If the court sentence is too light, and society loses trust in the court, they will take the law into their own hands," Mr Nel said. "That's what the court has to guard against."

He said a suggestion of correctional duties working with underprivileged children would not take Pistorius out of his "comfort zone".

Ms Vergeer said there had been other cases of culpable homicide where the opinions she had put forward had been implemented.

The Paralympic sprinter denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.

Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria.