UK & World News
- 27 February 2013, 17:57
Pistorius: Reeva's 'Last Text' Home Revealed
Reeva Steenkamp sent a text to her flatmate on the night she was shot dead, saying she would not be driving home because it was "too late".
Gina Myers, who shared a home with Miss Steenkamp in Johannesburg, told Sky News' Alex Crawford that the text was the last message she received from her friend.
Miss Myers said she had met Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his 29-year-old girlfriend at his luxury home in Pretoria, a few times and did not know him well, but had liked him.
She said Miss Steenkamp had been happy with the gold medal-winning Paralympian and would not have been with him otherwise.
She told Sky News: "It was like any other relationship. There was nothing that flashed a warning sign. She was happy. She was very happy.
"Reeva was not the kind of person to complain about stuff, but she would never have been with anyone if she wasn't happy. Her motto this year was to 'be happy and never settle'."
Miss Myers was speaking as it emerged that Pistorius held a private memorial service for Miss Steenkamp at his uncle's house in Pretoria.
The South African athlete has been staying at his uncle Arnold's house since being released on bail last Friday after being charged with the model's murder.
The 26-year-old, who also competed in the Olympics last summer, denies murder and claims he shot Miss Steenkamp by mistake believing she was an intruder.
Miss Steenkamp's funeral was held in Port Elizabeth last week, as her boyfriend appeared in court and insisted her death was an accident.
He has to abide by strict conditions while he is on bail, including reporting to a police station in Pretoria twice a week.
The athlete was also ordered to surrender his two passports, post bail of one million rand (£75,000) in cash and guarantees, and refrain from drinking alcohol.
Pistorius was also ordered to hand in any guns he owns and keep away from his home in a gated community in Pretoria, which is now a crime scene.
Prison service officials can drop in at his uncle's house at any time of day or night to ensure the athlete is complying with the bail terms.
Pistorius, who had his lower legs amputated at the age of 11 months after he was born without either fibula, rose to global fame with his fight to be allowed to run in the Olympics against able-bodied athletes.
He reached the semi-finals of the 400 metres at last year's London Games.
His case resumes on June 4.
what do you think?
ali baba
Suprised he never won an Oscar Sunday night
james stevenson
How two faced, i just can;t believe it!
andy may
if he's guilty yes. but we don't even know that yet, unless you were there?
Andrea Hill
why is he two faced?
andy may
andrea, i think he means IF the guy is guilty of murdering her and then pretending to be grief stricken by his loss.
Andrea Hill
i.know what he meant, why does he think it though, ibelieve it an accident
andy may
he obviously doesn't thibnk the same.
Brian Holmes
Totally inappropriate.
romsey1891
"after details were leaked to the media". Ho hum!! I just hope,the Truth is leaked to the jury!!
Juliet Williams
I personally don't think he did it and all I see on here are people saying he did!! I think he held his composure very well amidst all the media frenzy and I don't think he's acting and I don't see anything wrong with him holding a memorial service!! People are too quick to judge!!
Chris Price
Same here, im hoping that he is telling the truth about that night
andy may
agree, juliet. maybe the others on here are privy to more of the evidence than us. in fact they obviously know more than the judicial system in S.A., as they've given him bail and i don't think they would if they were as sure as the people on here that he did it.
Kate Anderton
Seems to me Juliet that you're not exactly averse to making a few judgements yourself are you? You don't think he did it, you don't think he was acting and you don't disapprove of the memorial service and then you say 'people are too quick to judge'! Priceless. What is the difference between you judging him to be innocent and others judging him to be guilty? What evidence have you got to make your judgement?
andy may
kate, you're right. however, we do live by the "innocent until PROVEN guilty" legal stance. we all have opinions but ultimately it's down to testing all the evidence in court.
Kate Anderton
Andy, there is a difference between 'innocent until proven guilty' and just saying you don't think he did it. This is just a forum for people to express their opinions, so if people are allowed to say they think he is innocent without having access to the evidence in this case, then likewise people should be allowed to say they think he is guilty for the same reason.
Kate Anderton
Oh dear, the 'thought police' on these forums don't like my comments, diddums.
Diane Rogers
I personally think he knew what he was doing. When I was watching the news coverage he had a smirk on his face. I also think he will get away with it.
adam
I know that you shouldnt judge but i have listened to his version of events and gone through it and ,maybe its just me ,but it just does not make any kind of sense whatsoever... Surely your first thought would be that the person in the toilet is the other person that is in the house with you? Who would automatically think that it was a burglar ,it just doesnt make sense at all to me.
Chris Price
Its in south africa, that country doesnt make sense. They live in fear of being the victims of violent crime and being burgled every day. The police are corrupt the security guards that look after some of these housing estates. Like the one oscar pistorius lives on are corrupt. He'd had contractors in who had left ladders outside and the bathroom windows didnt have burgler bars on them. You hear a noise,presume your other half is still in bed and that sets the ball rolling and adrenaline can make you do strange things if your scared. After all reeva could of still been in bed when he got up to go to the balcony. And she went to the toilet while he was outside. Its a strange case and it doesnt that the press only seem to focus on what has been said about oscar and his defence story instead of pointing out the poor handling of forensic and ballistic evidence and criminal profiling done by the police as well.
j.r.haynes
I found it strange that this 'luxurious' home didn't have an en-suite bathroom for someone with two prosthetic limbs. That said, I know I've woken from a deep sleep in the middle of the night and behaved in ways that, in the light of day, seemed odd. He certainly appears genuinely remorseful.
Chris Price
I actually listened to the bail hearing on the radio because i couldnt pick up my usual station in my van not through direct choice. It just so happened to be on. The magestrate read out a couple of statements made by friends of both reeva and oscar who had introduced them to each other possibly to try and dismiss the states claim that he is a danger to the public and witnesses . The most recent one was from january and it seemed as though they really cared for each other. He also said that more than one of the friends said that pistorius was going to invite her to over seas race meetings something that he had never done for any other girlfriend. Does that sound like a dodgy relationship? The state prosecution said that pistorius has a property in italy and is a flight risk. The magestrate pointed out that this information was obtained through a magazine company. And not interpol which is the correct procedure. All the evidence as magetrate desmond nair. Pointed out against oscar is Circumstancial at this time as the only 'credible" witness that the state has is the investigating officer W.O. Botha. And that neither side has a water tight case.
andy may
kate, i'm agreeing with you. all i am doing is putting into context OUR opinions against what actually happens.
Kate Anderton
Andy, yes i agree that he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but this isn't a court is it? It's just a forum and as such people are going to have differing opinions often based on not much more than that's what they think. We may not agree with all of them, but so what? Does that mean they still can't express them? It would be a very boring forum if everyone agreed with eachother don't you think?
andy may
i'm still agreeing with you. ; ) my actual opinion is, that i'm unsure whether he's guilty or not but do find his story a little hard to believe. my earlier point wasn't about opinion but those who seem adamant that he is guilty and don't appear consider that it is purely an opinion they're expressing. we should all express our views on here and all be able to discuss and respect alternative stances (god, i sound like a guardian reading liberal!!)
Kate Anderton
Ok Andy shall we agree to agree then? ;) For the record, i don't think his story adds up either, an intruder in his toilet?
movvi
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Dorothy Sommerville
Why did Reeva lock the bathroom door? She must have been scared of him.
Name witheld
4:12pm on 26/2/2013
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