Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius' deceased girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's cousin has revealed that it was the end of the world for her when she heard that the double amputee athlete had shot dead the South African model.
Steenkamp's Kim Martin revealed her happy memories of their childhood together, and her pain at hearing about the model's death to Pistorius' hearing. She also talked about Steenkamp's parents' financial problems and the fact that she had taken up modeling to support them.
It has been revealed that this is the first time the court has heard about Steenkamp outside her relationship, The BBC reported.
Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Steenkamp last month, but was cleared of murder. He faces up to 15 years in jail, although the judge might suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
With her voice breaking, Martin said that Steenkamp was the first baby she had ever held. She said that there was a very strong bond from a very young age, adding that Steenkamp was meticulous and hard working at school and that family was everything to her.
Martin also said that Steenkamp gave her first pay cheque as a model to her parents to pay for her schooling, because of their financial difficulties.
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Martin revealed that she met her cousin's famous new boyfriend only briefly, and found him shy and likeable, but wondered later about a comment Steenkamp had made to her. The model had said that she is happy but they need to talk.
Martin then became more emotional and spoke about the devastating impact of the killing on a very, very close family. Martin remembered how she heard on her car radio that Pistorius had shot his girlfriend, and hoped to God that he was cheating on her cousin and had shot someone else.
She revealed to the court how she went to her mother's house, saying that the doors opened and her mother was hysterical and that's when she knew it was true.
Martin said that that for her was the end of the world, and added that everything was just a blur from then onwards.
The Paralympic sprinter has denied murdering Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying that he shot her by mistake. Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, the report added.