South Africa Newspaper: Cape Times Big Picture: Facing Justice: Oscar Pistorius enters the dock in court proceedings at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on June 4. His trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, starts today. I want to look into his eyes, says Reeva’s mom Small Picture: June Steenkamp Theresa Taylor Pretoria: June Steenkamp will wear a sombre black suit as she walks through the doors of the Pretoria High Court this morning. She told British Newspaper the Mail on Sunday that last week she got her hair cut into a sleek bob, all in preparation for her first meeting with Oscar Pistorius. She has even planned where she will sit in the court so that Pistorius will have to look at her. “I want to look at Oscar, really look him in the eyes, and see for myself the truth about what he did to Reeva. And whatever the court decides at the end of his trial, I will be ready to forgive him. But first I want to force him to look at me, Reeva’s mother, and see the pain and anguish he has inflicted on me. I feel I need that,” she told the paper. The decision to attend has been a daunting one for this mother, who will be accompanied by her lawyers and daughter Simone this morning. Since her daughter was killed, she has refused to Read Newspaper Reports or Watch Television Documentaries about the killing. “I know many people in my position would want to see him dead or badly punished. But I believe in Faith and Justice and I don’t have any hatred or revenge in my heart. That’s not my way. I would rather pray for him and pray that my family can get through this terrible time,” she told the Mail on Sunday. Steenkamp, 67, says she still has no idea why Pistorius shot her daughter. She believes that if she attends court and listens to his version of events she will finally learn the truth about how and why her daughter died. “That is my obsession: the truth about why Oscar did what he did that night,” she said. The Mail on Sunday also reported that the Steenkamp family’s desire to “reclaim” their daughter from the many friends, and friends of friends, who have portrayed themselves as those closest to Reeva, was important. Steenkamp admitted to the paper that she feels resentful towards the Myers family, who hosted Reeva in Joburg. “They even held a Memorial Service for her without any consultation with me, and although I feel grateful that they provided a family home for her for a short while, and that Reeva was close to their two daughters, I think it is time to re-establish that I am Reeva’s mother,” she said. On Friday, British Tabloid Newspaper The Sun reported that Pistorius was dating Leah Skye, 19, a Student Paramedic at the University of Johannesburg. Over the weekend Sky News Broadcast Footage of Reeva and Pistorius doing some shopping and sharing a kiss. Yesterday, Pistorius’s attorney, Brian Webber, said they were hard at work preparing for the case. The spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, Anneliese Burgess, said they would not make any further comments to the media until the trial was concluded: “The family wants the focus to be on the trial.” Yesterday, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Nathi Mncube said they were prepared for all eventualities. “I suppose there will be some bit of a chaos here and there but inside the courtroom I can almost guarantee you it will go well,” he said. He said there would be between 15 and 20 Security Personnel around and inside the court. Steenkamp told the Mail on Sunday she plans to attend on the first day of the trial and the judgment. In court today she plans to greet only Warren Lahoud, Reeva’s former long-term boyfriend to whom the family is still close. Reeva’s father, Barry Steenkamp, will not be in court today due to ailing health, but hopes to attend at some stage. “There will be a time in the next few weeks when I know I should be there,” he said. “When that time comes, I want to confront Pistorius.” Yesterday the Steenkamps’ lawyer, advocate Petrus “Dup” de Bruyn, confirmed that no settlement had been reached yet between Pistorius and the Steenkamps.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 19:15:14 +0000
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