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| Oscar Pistorius murder charge: family breaks silence | Oscar Pistorius murder charge: family breaks silence |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The family of sporting idol Oscar Pistorius have broken their silence about the fatal shooting of his girlfriend and vehemently protested his innocence. | |
| Pistorius, dubbed the "blade runner", is in police detention facing a charge of premeditated murder after model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home in Pretoria last week. | Pistorius, dubbed the "blade runner", is in police detention facing a charge of premeditated murder after model Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home in Pretoria last week. |
| The Paralympian's uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said that forensic evidence from the crime scene shows that he did not knowingly kill Steenkamp. "After consulting with legal representatives, we deeply regret the allegation of premeditated murder," he said, reading an emotional statement at his home in Pretoria on Saturday. "We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the state's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all." | The Paralympian's uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said that forensic evidence from the crime scene shows that he did not knowingly kill Steenkamp. "After consulting with legal representatives, we deeply regret the allegation of premeditated murder," he said, reading an emotional statement at his home in Pretoria on Saturday. "We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the state's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all." |
| Media reports in South Africa continue to claim that Pistorius, 26, told police the shooting was a "horrible accident" after he mistakenly believed 29-year-old Steenkamp to be an intruder. One newspaper suggested that he fired four shots through a bathroom door. | Media reports in South Africa continue to claim that Pistorius, 26, told police the shooting was a "horrible accident" after he mistakenly believed 29-year-old Steenkamp to be an intruder. One newspaper suggested that he fired four shots through a bathroom door. |
| Arnold Pistorius offered an insight into the agonies of the family, many of whom watched helplessly as the athlete broke down in court on Friday. "As you can imagine our entire family is devastated, we are in a state of total shock – firstly about the tragic death of Reeva, whom we had all got to know well and care for deeply over the last few months," he said. "All of us saw at first hand how close she had become to Oscar during that time and how happy they were. They had plans together and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time. We are all grieving for Reeva, her family and her friends. | |
| He continued: "Oscar, as you can imagine, is also numb with shock as well as grief. Obviously at the same time we, as a family, are also battling to come to terms with Oscar being charged with murder." | |
| "Words cannot adequately describe our feelings. The lives of our entire family have been turned upside down for ever by this unimaginable human tragedy and Reeva's family have suffered a terrible loss. As a family we are trying to be strong and supportive to Oscar as any close family would be in these dreadful circumstances." | "Words cannot adequately describe our feelings. The lives of our entire family have been turned upside down for ever by this unimaginable human tragedy and Reeva's family have suffered a terrible loss. As a family we are trying to be strong and supportive to Oscar as any close family would be in these dreadful circumstances." |
| Meanwhile, South Africa's national public broadcaster was described as "exploitative" and "completely sick" for screening a reality TV show starring Steenkamp. The SABC, the country's equivalent of the BBC, went ahead on Saturday with a scheduled broadcast of Tropika Island of Treasure, which had been pre-recorded in Jamaica. | Meanwhile, South Africa's national public broadcaster was described as "exploitative" and "completely sick" for screening a reality TV show starring Steenkamp. The SABC, the country's equivalent of the BBC, went ahead on Saturday with a scheduled broadcast of Tropika Island of Treasure, which had been pre-recorded in Jamaica. |
| It was preceded with a short series of clips showing Steenkamp enjoying water sports, having fun with fellow contestants and being interviewed. "You literally fall in love with Jamaica," she said. "You fall in love with being in love with love, it's just one love everywhere." | It was preceded with a short series of clips showing Steenkamp enjoying water sports, having fun with fellow contestants and being interviewed. "You literally fall in love with Jamaica," she said. "You fall in love with being in love with love, it's just one love everywhere." |
| In one segment, presumably recorded when she was voted off the series, Steenkamp said: "I'm going home with a sweet taste in my mouth. I don't have any regrets, I don't have any bitterness. I take home with me so many amazing memories of things… that I'll treasure forever. | In one segment, presumably recorded when she was voted off the series, Steenkamp said: "I'm going home with a sweet taste in my mouth. I don't have any regrets, I don't have any bitterness. I take home with me so many amazing memories of things… that I'll treasure forever. |
| "I think that the way you go out, not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and you make your exit is so important. You've either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way, but just maintain integrity and maintain class and just always be true to yourself." | "I think that the way you go out, not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and you make your exit is so important. You've either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way, but just maintain integrity and maintain class and just always be true to yourself." |
| Before blowing kisses to the camera, she added: "And I'm going to miss you all so much. I love you very, very much." | Before blowing kisses to the camera, she added: "And I'm going to miss you all so much. I love you very, very much." |
| The screen showed the words, "In loving memory, Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp, 19-08-1983 – 14-02-2013", against a backdrop of her riding a swing. | |
| The actual programme began by introducing the 14 contestants. Steenkamp was seen posing seductively then lying on a beach in a blue bikini. She said: "My name is Reeva and I'm a model and we're in Jamaica this year." | The actual programme began by introducing the 14 contestants. Steenkamp was seen posing seductively then lying on a beach in a blue bikini. She said: "My name is Reeva and I'm a model and we're in Jamaica this year." |
| Smiling and laughing, she continued: "Be jealous, you can be jealous, yes, you can win a million rand, that's always good. I'm not going anywhere." | Smiling and laughing, she continued: "Be jealous, you can be jealous, yes, you can win a million rand, that's always good. I'm not going anywhere." |
| Some found her posthumous reality TV debut a ghoulish exercise. Nomboniso Gasa, a researcher and political analyst at PNG Services, said: "It's commodification. What better way to launch it from a completely mercenary point of view? I think it's in poor taste and it's highly exploitative. We're seeing this pretty girl and thinking how tragic. In some ways it devalues her death. What would the SABC have lost if it waited for a period?" | Some found her posthumous reality TV debut a ghoulish exercise. Nomboniso Gasa, a researcher and political analyst at PNG Services, said: "It's commodification. What better way to launch it from a completely mercenary point of view? I think it's in poor taste and it's highly exploitative. We're seeing this pretty girl and thinking how tragic. In some ways it devalues her death. What would the SABC have lost if it waited for a period?" |
| The SABC was also attacked by Rachel Jewkes, the director of the gender and health research unit at the South African Medical Research Council. "It sounds incredibly tasteless," she said. "I struggle to think what it would be like for her family to see her swanning around and being normal on TV." | The SABC was also attacked by Rachel Jewkes, the director of the gender and health research unit at the South African Medical Research Council. "It sounds incredibly tasteless," she said. "I struggle to think what it would be like for her family to see her swanning around and being normal on TV." |
| Jewkes defended the media's use of pictures of Steenkamp posing as a model, given that was her own choice of career. "But I do think there is a difference because rehashing old photos of her and showing a reality TV show which seems completely sick and cashing in. | Jewkes defended the media's use of pictures of Steenkamp posing as a model, given that was her own choice of career. "But I do think there is a difference because rehashing old photos of her and showing a reality TV show which seems completely sick and cashing in. |
| "Presumably they're expecting to get high ratings and I find that incredibly distateful. The final decision should have been taken by her relatives but they shouldn't have to make that decision two days after she died." | "Presumably they're expecting to get high ratings and I find that incredibly distateful. The final decision should have been taken by her relatives but they shouldn't have to make that decision two days after she died." |
| Steenkamp's cousin, Sharon Steenkamp, said the family had not been consulted by anyone from the show or the SABC, but they were not against it being aired because the model "was proud of being in the show." | Steenkamp's cousin, Sharon Steenkamp, said the family had not been consulted by anyone from the show or the SABC, but they were not against it being aired because the model "was proud of being in the show." |
| "Her last words to us personally was that she wants us to watch it," Sharon told the Associated Press. | "Her last words to us personally was that she wants us to watch it," Sharon told the Associated Press. |
| Speaking before the broadcast, Samantha Sutton, a close family friend, said: "I think Reeva's mother is going to be in mixed minds: probably delighted to see her daughter but also broken hearted." | Speaking before the broadcast, Samantha Sutton, a close family friend, said: "I think Reeva's mother is going to be in mixed minds: probably delighted to see her daughter but also broken hearted." |
| Shashi Naidoo, owner of a modelling agency and a friend of Steenkamp, added: "Reeva was very excited about the show and I think she would have wanted it to air. As her friends I think we are happy that other people will get to know the warm, bubbly, fun loving person we knew and loved." | Shashi Naidoo, owner of a modelling agency and a friend of Steenkamp, added: "Reeva was very excited about the show and I think she would have wanted it to air. As her friends I think we are happy that other people will get to know the warm, bubbly, fun loving person we knew and loved." |
| Samantha Moon, the executive producer of Tropika Island of Treasure, said the family wanted the show to go ahead. "They want it on," Moon, who works for production company Stimulii, told AP. "This is how they want to remember her. This is what she would have wanted." | Samantha Moon, the executive producer of Tropika Island of Treasure, said the family wanted the show to go ahead. "They want it on," Moon, who works for production company Stimulii, told AP. "This is how they want to remember her. This is what she would have wanted." |