Pistorius's trial takes toll on Reeva's family

Graeme Hosken

THE upcoming murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is taking its toll on the family of Port Elizabeth model Reeva Steenkamp.

Her dad, Barry Steenkamp, is said to have suffered his second stroke a few days ago.

The family's lawyer, Dup de Bruyn, yesterday confirmed Steenkamp had had a stroke.

"It was light ... he has recovered reasonably well, but it is a traumatic time. He simply cannot see his way forward to come to the trial."

Steenkamp suffered a previous stroke at the end of last month.

While Steenkamp recovers at the family's home in Port Elizabeth, his wife June will today fly into Johannesburg.

She, along with relatives, will attend the start of the three-week trial on Monday.

De Bruyn said while June was fine, "she is obviously very emotional during this traumatic time".

"She will be there at court with her support structures – relatives and friends."

Pistorius is accused of deliberately murdering his girlfriend, Reeva, who he shot dead at his luxury Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year – an accusation he denies.

Pistorius maintains the killing was an accident. He said at the time of the shooting he believed Reeva, who was shot dead in the toilet of his en-suite bathroom, was a burglar.

Earlier this month, ahead of the anniversary of her daughter's death, June spoke of the emotional toll their daughter's death had taken on them.

"It is bad. Bad, bad, bad and nothing that is done will change that. Under the circumstances we are not okay. We are not all right.

"Yes, I will be at the trial. For me, for us and for Reeva, but it will not bring back our beautiful baby. It never gets easier. It only gets worse," June said.

"We try for Reeva, but it is difficult."

Meanwhile, a team of senior police officers, led by the SAPS head of detectives, Lieutenant-General Vineshkumar Moonoo, are in California at Apple's headquarters awaiting the deciphering of one of Pistorius's cellphones.

Police for a year have been battling red-tape to unlock the cellphone to access data, including what is believed to be deleted SMSes and WhatsApp messages.

They have been unable to access the data because Pistorius has allegedly forgotten the cellphone's passcode.