Steenkamp family explains “blood money” issue
Explosive testimony in the Oscar Pistorius trial about regular monthly payments to the parents of Reeva Steenkamp by the athlete since a month after she had been shot, prompted her parents to issue a statement this morning to clarify the issue.
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot and killed by international sports icon Oscar Pistorius, was quite surprised when it was raised in court yesterday that they had been receiving payments from the athlete since March last year, a month after their daughter’s death.
In a statement issued on behalf of June en Barry Steenkamp this morning, it was said that it was Pistorius’ legal team that requested that the R6 000 monthly payments be kept confidential – a request honoured by the Steenkamps.
“We were therefore quite surprised yesterday when this fact was disclosed in court without any prior warning to us. The fact that the matter had been kept confidential at the request of Pistorius’ legal advisers has also not been placed on record,” they stated.
It was stated in court yesterday that the Steenkamps regarded payment from their daughter’s killer as ‘blood money’.
According to the statement, the offer of payment had been made by Pistorius’ lawyers shortly after the death of Steenkamp, at a time when her parents were in financial difficulties. The matter was raised when a possible civil suit against the bilateral amputee was being discussed.
“We were contacted soon afterwards by Pistorius’ lawyers with an offer that he would contribute towards the Steenkamp parents’ rental and living expenses,” the statement read.
“The parents intend to repay this amount as soon as arrangements can be made in this regard. It was always the intention of the parents that the amount of R6 000 would be set-off against any civil claim that they were going to institute,” according to the statement.
However, once the Steenkamp’s decided not to proceed with the civil claim, which decision was only taken during the past few week, it followed that the money would be repaid, it was stated.
It was also stated that the Steenkamp’s had approached the Pretorius legal team about settling a civil claim and an offer to settle had been made by Pistorius.
“When the parents were made aware of this offer, thy considered it carefully but decided, for various reasons, that they did not want any money from Pistorius. This is also why we were instructed to advise that no civil claim would be instituted.”
“We place this on record to make it clear that a request for an offer emanated from our side and not from Pistorius’ side. He was responding to our request as to whether the civil claim could not be settled.”
The Steenkamps stated that they would not make any further comment.
For more news and updates, like Rekord on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter for live updates from the court room.
