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| Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Reeva Steenkamp's cousin says murder has turned celebrations into 'funeral' | Oscar Pistorius sentencing: Reeva Steenkamp's cousin says murder has turned celebrations into 'funeral' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Reeva Steenkamp’s cousin has described her father as a “broken man” as she described the harrowing impact of her death on the family. | Reeva Steenkamp’s cousin has described her father as a “broken man” as she described the harrowing impact of her death on the family. |
| Oscar Pistorius sat in court with his head hung as Kim Martin gave evidence on the third day of his sentencing for murdering is girlfriend. | Oscar Pistorius sat in court with his head hung as Kim Martin gave evidence on the third day of his sentencing for murdering is girlfriend. |
| “Not a day goes by without thinking about her,” she said. “As a family we will never be able to carry on like normal. | “Not a day goes by without thinking about her,” she said. “As a family we will never be able to carry on like normal. |
| “I’m coping, yes, because you’ve got to get on with your life but the scars, the effect runs very deep. | “I’m coping, yes, because you’ve got to get on with your life but the scars, the effect runs very deep. |
| “I’m the mother of three children, so I have to cope…I have to be strong for them.” | “I’m the mother of three children, so I have to cope…I have to be strong for them.” |
| Ms Martin told the court in South Africa that birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations had become a “funeral” since Ms Steenkamp’s death. | Ms Martin told the court in South Africa that birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations had become a “funeral” since Ms Steenkamp’s death. |
| “Valentine’s Day is the worst day for us,” she added. “I saw my father cry for the very first time when Reeva died...Barry (Ms Steenkamp’s) father is a broken man." | |
| Giving evidence yesterday, he said his daughter’s murder had “devastated” his family. | Giving evidence yesterday, he said his daughter’s murder had “devastated” his family. |
| In a voice shaking with emotion, Barry Steenkamp revealed he has tried to imagine the horrific moment of his daughter's death, and said: “Oscar has to pay for what he did.” | In a voice shaking with emotion, Barry Steenkamp revealed he has tried to imagine the horrific moment of his daughter's death, and said: “Oscar has to pay for what he did.” |
| Charlotte Mashaban, a prison nurse, told the court Pistorius could be violent, having “tantrums” and becoming angry during her time treating him. | |
| His lawyer, Barry Roux, contested the claim and accused her of embellishing her account of the incidents. | |
| Pistorius, a former Paralympic champion, has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend at his home on Valentine’s Day in 2013 in a case that transfixed the world. | Pistorius, a former Paralympic champion, has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend at his home on Valentine’s Day in 2013 in a case that transfixed the world. |
| The double-amputee, who also competed at the 2012 London Olympics, is currently under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp at his Pretoria home. | The double-amputee, who also competed at the 2012 London Olympics, is currently under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp at his Pretoria home. |
| That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder. | That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder. |
| Judge Thokozile Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder, will decide the new sentence in a hearing scheduled to run until Friday. | Judge Thokozile Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder, will decide the new sentence in a hearing scheduled to run until Friday. |
| Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality television star, several times through a toilet door. | Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality television star, several times through a toilet door. |
| He claimed in his trial that he thought his house had been broken into, and that he opened fire in the belief that an intruder was hiding in the small room. | He claimed in his trial that he thought his house had been broken into, and that he opened fire in the belief that an intruder was hiding in the small room. |
| Ms Martin told the court the family wanted to know “the truth” and for Pistorius to apologised for the killing. | Ms Martin told the court the family wanted to know “the truth” and for Pistorius to apologised for the killing. |
| South Africa has a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, although it can be reduced by a judge. | South Africa has a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, although it can be reduced by a judge. |