Hi °C | Lo °C THE family of Reeva Steenkamp says there has been no contact with Oscar Pistorius since the 29-year-old was gunned down at the famous sprinter's home last week.
And they are still in the dark about what led to her death.
Ms Steenkamp's body was found at Pistorius's home in the early hours of St Valentine's Day. She was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood she suffered gunshot wounds to her head and other parts of her body.
The world-famous double amputee, who on Friday morning was charged with intentionally murdering his late girlfriend, issued a public statement later that day extending his condolences to the Steenkamp family.
"There has been no behind-the-scenes contact, on either side, since then," Ms Steenkamp's brother, Adam, told the Irish Independent yesterday.
"The one and only time there was contact with Oscar was in December when one of Reeva's parents spoke to him by phone. But I don't want to comment on what was said then."
Though Ms Steenkamp's body has been lying in a morgue since last Friday evening in her hometown of Port Elizabeth, as of yesterday her family had not visited her remains.
"For now, we are focusing on the (funeral) ceremony that will take place tomorrow. We are thinking about Reeva. We are preparing her farewell. And that's our focus now," said 36-year-old Adam, who is the half-brother of the slain woman.
Dignity
Ms Steenkamp's remains will be cremated, he said, "but we are appealing for privacy during the ceremony so that we can say goodbye to her with dignity".
None of the family were present when Pistorius made his first court appearance on Friday.
"For now, at least, we don't plan on attending any of his immediate court appearances," her brother said.
Adam lives in Suffolk, England, but flew home shortly after news of Ms Steenkamp's death broke. Her half-sister Simone, who also lives in the UK, is due to arrive today.
Though Adam and the Steenkamp family woke to reports yesterday in the national press about how police had found Ms Steenkamp with her head "crushed" and with bullet wounds to various parts of her body, he refuses to comment on what may or may not have happened.
"We don't know. We don't want to comment on her post-mortem results or on any aspect of the police investigation. We are trying to come to terms with this as a family. Her parents, like any parents, are numb. We are trying to remember my sister and that's all we can say for now," he said.
Though Ms Steenkamp's parents never met Mr Pistorius, according to Adam: "They thought Oscar and my sister were happy together."
Irish Independent
