Reeva Steenkamp Cousin’s Tearful Plea: Oscar Pistorius Must Pay For Girlfriend’s Death

As the sentencing phase of the Oscar Pistorius case continues, Reeva Steenkamp relatives are taking the stand in an effort to argue that the athlete serve jail time for killing her. Kim Martin, cousin...
Reeva Steenkamp Cousin’s Tearful Plea: Oscar Pistorius Must Pay For Girlfriend’s Death
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  • As the sentencing phase of the Oscar Pistorius case continues, Reeva Steenkamp relatives are taking the stand in an effort to argue that the athlete serve jail time for killing her.

    Kim Martin, cousin of the late Steenkamp, tearfully pleaded for Judge Masipa Thokozile to send Pistorius to prison.

    Said Martin, “Everybody has suffered here, and I really think we need to send a message to society that you can’t do this and get away with it.”

    While Oscar Pistorius and his emotional response to the case has been frequently discussed in the media, there has been concern expressed that Reeva Steenkamp, the deceased victim, has been forgotten.

    Also, fear that the man who shot her will be able to walk away with virtually no punishment due to his celebrity status.

    “My family are not people who are seeking revenge,” said Martin. “We just feel that to take someone’s life, to shoot somebody behind a door, that is unarmed, that is harmless, needs sufficient punishment.”

    She also shared that in addition to wanting justice for her deceased cousin that she is “very fearful” of Pistorius. His apology for Steenkamp’s death is one that Martin does not feel is remotely genuine.

    Reeva Steenkamp was killed by Oscar Pistorius in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013. According to the 27-year-old, he accidentally killed his 29-year-old girlfriend after mistaking her for an intruder.

    Steenkamp died after he fired four shots through the bathroom door, hitting her multiple times.

    Led by Gerrie Nel, the prosecution fought to get Pistorius convicted of purposely killing Steenkamp.

    Masipa opted to convict Oscar of culpable homicide. This is the South African equivalent of a manslaughter charge.

    She felt that Reeva’s death was the result of negligence on the part of the former Olympic athlete.

    Proceedings are expected to wrap up within a couple of days with Masipa deciding Pistorius’s fate on Tuesday.

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