Reeva Steenkamp's Father Wants 'Blade Runner' to Come Clean - East Idaho News
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Reeva Steenkamp’s Father Wants ‘Blade Runner’ to Come Clean

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142891931?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1361806121721Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — In their first televised interview since their daughter was shot to death by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp’s parents said they want the world-famous Paralympian to come clean about what happened in his South African home on Valentine’s Day.

Barry Steenkamp said he yearns for the truth about what happened prior to his daughter’s being shot three times in the bathroom of Pistorius’ Pretoria home.

“It’s only Oscar [and] Reeva that know the true story, and all I want is that he must just come out with the honest truth,” he told the Cart Blanche television program Sunday on South African channel MNet.

In the emotional interview, Steenkamp’s mother, June, described how police called her Feb. 14 asking whether she had a daughter:

“I said, ‘Yes,’ and he said, ‘There’s been an accident, and she’s been shot.’ And I said, ‘All I want to know is if she’s alive or she’s dead.’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you, but she’s dead.'”

Pistorius, a double-amputee nicknamed the Blade Runner for the carbon-fiber blades he uses, was granted bail Friday after an intense four-day hearing in a Pretoria courtroom. Pistorius, 26, says he killed Steenkamp, 29, accidentally, mistaking her for an intruder. But prosecutors allege that the killing was premeditated.

Barry Steenkamp told the Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper Suturday that Pistorius will have to “live with his conscience” and will “suffer” if his story that he shot Steenkamp because he believed she was an intruder is false.

The saga took another twist Sunday with news that the runner’s older brother, Carl Pistorius, is being charged in the 2008 death of a woman whose motorcycle collided with his car. In a statement, Carl Pistorius’ lawyer said he is innocent of the crime.

“There is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court,” attorney Kenny Oldwage said.

Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide, or the unlawful negligent killing of another person. The charges were initially dropped, but later reinstated, Oldwage said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the last image of Steenkamp emerged over the weekend. It shows her smiling as she drives up to the entrance of Pistorius’ house. Hours later, she was shot dead.

Oscar Pistorius’ next court appearance will be June 4. He is believed to be staying at his uncle’s house as he awaits trial.

 

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