Family Mourns Slain South African Model

Family and friends mourn Reeva Steenkamp at the model's funeral as her boyfriend, track star Oscar Pistorius, appears in court charged with her murder.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Sports, World

Topics

Sports, Africa, Legal

People

Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, Adam Steenkamp, Mike Steenkamp

Places

South Africa, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth

Transcript

Family and friends mourn slain model Reeva Steenkamp at a funeral in South Africa's coastal city of Port Elizabeth. Shot dead in the early hours of Valentine's Day in Pretoria, the law graduate's body arrives at a crematorium in her home town. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE STEENKAMP, REEVA'S UNCLE, AFTER THE FUNERAL, SAYING: "But we are here today as a family but there is only one thing missing and it is Reeva." Her uncle said she had wanted to be more active in speaking out against abuse of women. (SOUNDBITE) (English) REEVA'S UNCLE, MIKE STEENKAMP, SAYING "We have to keep Reeva in our hearts forever and by her passing away is actually can make a change in the lives of many people as I know it has done." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADAM STEENKAMP, REEVA'S BROTHER, SAYING: "We are going to keep all the positive things that we remember and know about my sister and we will try and continue with the things that she tried to make better. We will miss her." Mourners at the private ceremony called for a harsh penalty for her boyfriend, Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius, who has been charged with her murder. The 26-year-old appeared in court Tuesday for a bail hearing, weeping as Steenkamp's shooting was described. Pistorius has said he fired at the bathroom door thinking Steenkamp was an intruder. But prosecutors argue the murder was premeditated.