REVEALED: Reeva Steenkamp’s Parents Have Been Receiving Monthly Payments From Oscar Pistorius Since Her Death.

 

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp have been receiving secret monthly payments of 6,000 South African rand (£341) from Oscar Pistorius since her death, but have turned down a lump sum of 375,000 rand (£21,299) as “blood money”.

The cash transfers have not been made public over the past 18 months but emerged on Tuesday during the Paralympian’s trial, to the surprise of many in court. It was said the Steenkamps have promised to return “every cent” of the money sent by the man who killed their daughter.

Barry and June Steenkamp will pay back around £6,250 that Pistorius gave them in monthly instalments to help with their living expenses, they said in a statement released by their lawyer.

Pistorius’s defence lawyer, Barry Roux, later read the statement in court at the athlete’s sentencing hearing, and said Pistorius gave the parents the money “unconditionally” and did not want it back.

Pistorius, 27, was found guilty last month of negligently killing his girlfriend. He could face years in prison, although he could also receive a suspended jail term and a fine.

Ms Steenkamp’s cousin later sobbed as she told the South African court how she first heard Pistorius had killed his girlfriend on the radio. Kim Martin said she had “hoped to God” the woman he had shot was not Reeva. Culled