The mother of murdered Reeva Steenkamp has forgiven Oscar Pistorius for killing her daughter in a remarkable act – saying she’s “done” with the disgraced former paralympian.
June Steenkamp struggles with the grief over her model daughter’s horrific death every day, but says now, five years on, she is “finished” with Pistorius and has forgiven him.
“I am not interested in Oscar Pistorius, I am finished with that!” The 71-year-old told South African newspaper The Citizen, after his plea to have his sentence reduced was denied just days ago.
“It’s up to the justice system now – I have no interest whatsoever in him. He is not important to me anymore. It has been five years and I have had enough now,” she added. Explaining her brave decision, June said both her and her husband Barry are not “vengeful” people, and concluded: “I’ve forgiven Oscar for killing my daughter… God expects me to forgive. A lot of people don’t understand that but for me it’s true.”
She hasn’t faced Pistorius behind bars however, insisting there’s nothing she can say to him.
Pistorius’ bid to have his jail term reduced for the murder was rejected just days ago, after the sentence was doubled on appeal last year.
The former South African Paralympic athlete, 31, was initially convicted of culpable homicide – the equivalent of manslaughter – in 2014, but had his conviction increased to murder on appeal and was sentenced to six years behind bars. His punishment was later increased to 13 years and five months after the prosecution successfully argued against the “shockingly lenient” sentence.
According to multiple reports, Pistorius recently asked the Constitutional Court to review his murder sentence in the hopes of having it reduced. However, “the application for leave to appeal is dismissed”, a court ruling released on Monday stated.
The ruling explained it was not a constitutional matter, and it was dated March 28. This means Pistorius will have to see out the extent of his sentence from behind bars.
According to The Sun, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said in a statement: “We have always contended as the NPA that their leave to appeal has no prospects of success, and the Constitutional Court has just confirmed that.”
Pistorius has always maintained his innocence and said he thought Steenkamp was an intruder when he shot her through the bathroom door in the middle of the night. His arrest and consequent trial drew worldwide attention as well as criticism of the South African justice system.