Oscar Pistorius Trial Update: Reeva Steenkamp's Cousin Says Pistorius 'Needs to Pay'
After being found guilty of culpable homicide, the sentencing hearing of Oscar Pistorius continued on the morning of Oct. 16. Pistorius' team has been arguing for three days for a correctional supervision sentence with periods of house arrest, which will allow him to resume his athletics career. However, Gerrie Nel said that this was "shockingly inappropriate."
Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin continued her testimony, and when asked about how she feels about Pistorius, she said, "I'm very fearful of the accused."
"We've even made a point of not mentioning his name in my house, because I didn't want to spend any energy thinking about him." Martin added.
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"I really believe Mr. Pistorius needs to pay for what he has done. My family are not people who are seeking revenge. We just feel that to take someone's life … needs sufficient punishment," she continued. "I was very worried when I was under the belief that prison conditions would be bad for prison. When I discovered that his rehabilitation process in the prison would be humane … I feel Mr. Pistorius needs to pay for what he's done … We need a message to society that you can't do this."
Martin testified in behalf of Steenkamp's family, and she said on Oct. 15, "I must be Reeva's voice. I had to do this for Reeva, I owe it to her."
Moleko Zac Modise from the department of correctional services was the next witness called to the stand. Modise said that South Africa's jails are safe and that Pistorius will be treated properly during his period of incarceration.
Defense counsel Barry Roux asked Modise if he knew of any threats made against Pistorius by any of the inmates at Kgosi Mampuru, which is a jail in Pretoria where the Blade Runner would likely be placed. Modise denied knowledge of such threats, and Roux read a newspaper report about the alleged threats to Pistorius made by a gang leader in prison who calls himself "The General."
Before the court adjourned for lunch, Pistorius' family asked to have Mikey Schultz, a self-confessed killer, removed from the benches reserved for the family of the defendant. Pistorius' sister Aimee was reportedly concerned that Schultz sitting on the bench would create an impression that he was with them.
The Olympian's family also said that Schultz mouthed obscenities at Aimee. Schultz walked out of the court and complained that the Pistorius family "thought they owned the front row."
