Reeva Steenkamp's family is trying to make peace with the model's killer Oscar Pistorius. Speaking out about Steenkamp's death, her sister, Simone Cowburn, said the Paralympic champion has their forgiveness for shooting Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013, according to a new report by The Sun.
"Hating him will not bring our Reeva back," she said, per the outlet.
"He has our forgiveness and in return why cannot he just tell the truth? He puts us through hell every single day until he tells the truth," she added. "My religion and my heart tells me it is wrong to seek revenge. I forgive him for shooting her dead. As a Christian, I have to."
Cowburn's comments come as BBC faces scrutiny for airing a trailer for its upcoming documentary series, "The Trials of Oscar Pistorius," which failed to mention Steenkamp by name. BBC has since pulled the promotional trailer but still faces widespread backlash for what many found demeaning.
"A total failure to even name the woman he killed. Shame on the BBC," domestic abuse campaigner David Challen said, per Daily Mail.
"No one says Reeva Steenkamp's name in this trailer, or speaks for her. In seven years, with all that's supposedly changed about editorial practice and how we talk about these stories, she’s just back to being the unnamed girlfriend," noted historian Dr. Fern Riddell.
Cowburn criticized the broadcaster for the documentary, which will air "The Trials of Oscar Pistorius" Saturday on BBC iPlayer.
"I haven’t yet seen this documentary but from what I hear it’s just all about him, not about Reeva. It’s crazy, just crazy," she told Daily Mail.
Pistorius is serving a 15-year prison sentence for murder but can apply for parole in 2023. Cowburn added that the athlete is likely hoping the documentary will work in his favor.
"Oscar is obviously trying to get out of prison as soon as he can, and he and his family probably think this documentary will help him."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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