Reeva Steenkamp Family Holds Funeral in Port Elizabeth

Reeva Steenkamp was laid to rest in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Tuesday with more than 100 friends and family.

The funeral of the 29-year-old took place on the same day as prosecutors charged her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius, with premeditated murder. Steenkamp was found dead with a fatal shot at the home of her boyfriend in his home on Valentine's Day.

"There's a space missing inside all of the people that she knew that can't be filled again," said Reeva's brother Adam Steenkamp, who gave the eulogy. "We're going to keep all the positive things that we remember and know about my sister and we will try and continue with the things that she tried to make better. We'll miss her."

Steenkamp body was cremated at a private service at the Victoria Park Crematorium and the family seems to be mostly having avoided talking about the case against Pistorius, even at the funeral.

"Today everyone is here as a family, and there is only one thing missing: Reeva. This is so painful," said Michael Steenkamp, Reeva's uncle.

Steenkamp's mother June said she wanted answers in an interview, "All we have is this horrendous death to deal with ... to get to grips with. All we want are answers ... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this."

In the meantime, Pistorius' defense lawyer, Barry Roux, denied the prosecution's premeditated murder charge in the bail application hearing in Pretoria, saying it was an accidental shooting.

"We submit it is not even murder," Roux said on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. "There is no concession this is a murder."

Tags
Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius
world news
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics