0:00:02 > 0:00:03November 4th, 2012.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Back from his Olympic triumph in London,
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Oscar Pistorius is on the red carpet with a new girlfriend -
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Reeva Steenkamp.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16The media want an interview, but her voice is weak.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I'm sick. Do you want to do a little one?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23It's their first date - arranged just an hour and a half earlier.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Hi, I'm Oscar's date tonight.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28He needed a date at the last minute, so he's like,
0:00:28 > 0:00:32"Reeva, just throw your stuff together and come and be my date."
0:00:32 > 0:00:35- Why, she's asked, is Oscar free tonight?- It's funny, hey?
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I don't know how that worked out.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Is she looking forward to her surprise night out?
0:00:39 > 0:00:41I'm excited to, like, just enjoy the evening.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Entertainment, just everything as a whole.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It's a fun night out, something different.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Not a club, nothing boring. It's exciting.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And what does she think of her date, Oscar Pistorius?
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Oscar is a very, very sexy boy.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56But he doesn't do it in, like, an arrogant, obnoxious way.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58He does it in a very classy, understated...
0:00:58 > 0:01:01He has a good, simple suit on.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Yeah. He's a gentleman. Thank you!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08On count one, murder.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12The accused is found not guilty and is discharged.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19Instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22- OSCAR:- Before I knew it, I fired four shots at the door.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25In this programme - behind the scenes of
0:01:25 > 0:01:28the Pistorius trial, with the parents of the victim.
0:01:29 > 0:01:37Only people that have gone through this will understand.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41My child, my most precious child, is gone.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42I'm Rick Edwards.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Within days of the shooting, I travelled to South Africa
0:01:45 > 0:01:48for BBC Three to find out what really happened.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Tonight, the dramatic courtroom moments
0:01:51 > 0:01:53broadcast to a worldwide audience.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- REPORTER:- They are calling this the trial of the century.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The private, fearful text message from Reeva to Oscar...
0:01:59 > 0:02:03"I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me
0:02:03 > 0:02:05"and of how you will react to me."
0:02:05 > 0:02:07..the defence video and messages
0:02:07 > 0:02:10that suggested a closer relationship...
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- OSCAR:- She says, "I think today is a good day to tell you"
0:02:13 > 0:02:14and then it says,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16"I love you."
0:02:16 > 0:02:20I realise that she cared for him. She was looking for a soul mate.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that's what you did.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26- OSCAR:- My mistake was that I took Reeva's life, My Lady.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28You killed her - you shot and killed her.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31But Pistorius insists it was a tragic accident.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- OSCAR:- I thought that there was a burglar
0:02:34 > 0:02:36that was gaining entry into my home.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41And I grabbed my firearm from underneath the bed.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44I was simply trying to protect Reeva.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Mr Pistorius, please stand up.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Tonight, Reeva's parents speak about the verdict, and the future.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07WOMAN: The trial of the decade got under way today in
0:03:07 > 0:03:09the High Court in Pretoria.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11On March 3rd, 2014,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14the eyes of the world were focused on a courtroom in Pretoria.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15In South Africa,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19the long-awaited trial has begun of the world-famous athlete
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and, until last year, national hero, Oscar Pistorius.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28The huge media entourage was on alert for the main arrivals.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30The accused - Oscar Pistorius.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35An international hero and inspiration for millions as
0:03:35 > 0:03:38the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympic Games.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Now, Pistorius, pleading not guilty, was facing a charge of
0:03:42 > 0:03:45premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49a model, reality TV star and daughter of June Steenkamp.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54She had a promising future, everything. And now it's gone.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57And he's got to take responsibility for that
0:03:57 > 0:03:59no matter what the outcome is.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Reeva's mum made a 700-mile journey for the opening of the trial,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05with a front-row seat reserved.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06Let us through, please.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08I'm Advocate de Bruyn, and I've got the victim's mother here,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Mrs Steenkamp, and they arranged that we can go right though the gate.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- OK.- OK, please.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16The tension was clear.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21- PRODUCER:- How are you feeling? - Very nervous.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Do you maybe want to share with us what's going through your mind?
0:04:26 > 0:04:27No.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I was sort of preparing myself to be strong.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37And I didn't want to speak about it, I just wanted to carry on.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Keep my dignity and be...
0:04:42 > 0:04:45who I...I am.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48But first, she and her lawyer had to brave the media crush
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- in the torrential rain. - It was very hectic.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54They wouldn't move out the way, you know?
0:04:54 > 0:04:57They kind of threw the umbrellas on the floor
0:04:57 > 0:04:59cos it was raining, and just trodden on them
0:04:59 > 0:05:03because they were just wanting to get the pictures.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Minutes later, flanked by bodyguards,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Oscar Pistorius appeared,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11charging through a phalanx of flashing cameras without stopping.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15June Steenkamp wanted the answer to the central question -
0:05:15 > 0:05:17why was her daughter killed?
0:05:17 > 0:05:21And she wanted to look into the eyes of the man who fired the gun.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I've never met him, you know?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27I've never met him at all.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31And he must see me, that I am there.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33This is the mother of the child that you've killed,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36the woman that you've killed.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40And that's... Just that impact, the reason that I want to go.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Days before her first sight of Oscar Pistorius,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50700 miles away in Port Elizabeth on the Indian Ocean coast,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53June Steenkamp and Reeva's father, Barry,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55allowed our cameras inside their home.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Preparing for the trial, but trying to keep an open mind
0:05:58 > 0:05:59about what happened to Reeva.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I've got no revengeful feelings.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06And I've forgiven Oscar for what he's done.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09But, I mean, he has killed her.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14And even if he made a mistake, it's a huge mistake.
0:06:14 > 0:06:15It's cost her her life.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And us, cost us Reeva's life.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21I've got my...
0:06:22 > 0:06:25..own feelings inside...
0:06:26 > 0:06:28..as to what happened.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30But what I do want to do...
0:06:32 > 0:06:37..is to just to talk to him, to have a chat to him, man to man.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Guilty or not guilty, whatever it is.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I would like to have a talk.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43That would help me a lot.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48June Steenkamp's last conversation with her daughter
0:06:48 > 0:06:50was on February 13, 2013,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52as Reeva drove to the home of Oscar Pistorius.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Just before 6pm, a surveillance camera filmed Reeva,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01behind the wheel of her silver Mini, chatting and smiling with
0:07:01 > 0:07:05the guards who patrolled the high-security, gated community.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Ten minutes later, Oscar arrived, driving a white BMW.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14By 10pm, Oscar Pistorius said the couple had eaten
0:07:14 > 0:07:16and were getting ready for bed.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19He'd taken off his prosthetic legs and was watching TV,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22while Reeva was doing her yoga exercises.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Not much later, according to Pistorius,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26they were both fast asleep.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31Reeva's Valentine's Day gift and card to Oscar was unopened.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34We've recreated the scene fully lit to give you an idea of
0:07:34 > 0:07:37the layout of the bedroom and the en-suite bathroom.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40In Oscar Pistorius's sworn testimony,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43the events happened in pitch dark in the middle of the night.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46He said that, unusually, he was on the left-hand side of the bed
0:07:46 > 0:07:49as we look at it here, because he had a shoulder problem.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51He and Reeva had swapped sides.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55In his sworn affidavit for his bail hearing, Oscar Pistorius'
0:07:55 > 0:07:59version of events starts just after three o'clock in the morning.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02I woke up, went onto the balcony to bring
0:08:02 > 0:08:06the fan in and closed the sliding doors, the blinds and the curtains.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08I heard a noise in the bathroom,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11and realised that someone was in the bathroom.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Too scared to switch on the lights,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15he says he didn't put on his prosthetic legs,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18but walked on his stumps towards the noise.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22I grabbed my 9mm pistol from underneath my bed.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25On my way to the bathroom I screamed the words to the effect for him
0:08:25 > 0:08:29or them to get out of my house and for Reeva to phone the police.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34It was pitch dark in the bedroom and I thought Reeva was in bed.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38From the bathroom doorway, he says he saw an open window.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Again, he heard noises, coming from behind the door.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43He aimed his 9mm pistol.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I fired shots at the toilet door
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and shouted to Reeva to phone the police.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52She did not respond and I moved backwards out of the bathroom,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55keeping my eyes on the bathroom entrance.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Everything was pitch dark in the bedroom
0:08:57 > 0:08:59and I was still too scared to switch on a light.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Reeva was not responding.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04When I reached the bed, I realised that Reeva was not in bed.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06That is when it dawned on me
0:09:06 > 0:09:08that it could have been her who was in the toilet.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I returned to the bathroom calling her name.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14I tried to open the toilet door, but it was locked.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17I rushed back into the bedroom and opened the sliding door,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21exiting onto the balcony and screamed for help.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25It's believed the shooting happened between 3:12 and 3:14am.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29After shouting for help, Oscar made several phone calls.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33The first, at 3:19, was to a neighbour, Johan Stander.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38Next, at 3:20, he called an ambulance. Then, estate security.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Oscar carried Reeva down these stairs, photographed later,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44showing a trail of blood.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Neighbours arrived, and in court recalled the scene.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50As I approached the lady,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54there was a man on his knees on the left side.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59He said: "I shot her, I thought she was a burglar and I shot her."
0:09:59 > 0:10:02He's crying.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03He's praying.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07He's asking God to help him.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11He was torn apart.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Broken. Desperate.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16Pleading.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19He kept on asking me, "Where's the ambulance?
0:10:19 > 0:10:21"Where's the ambulance? Where are they?
0:10:21 > 0:10:22"Please, Carice, where are they?"
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Begging me, and I just kept on telling him, "They're coming.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27"They're coming, Oscar, please. They're coming."
0:10:27 > 0:10:31By the time the ambulance and police arrived, it was already too late.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Inspecting the scene inside the house,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37detectives were immediately suspicious of Oscar's story.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41There was blood in the bedroom and damage to bathroom tiles.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44It looked like there'd been a fight.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Reeva's bag was packed, and she'd taken her mobile phone from
0:10:47 > 0:10:51the bedroom to the bathroom, locking herself inside the toilet cubicle.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54His body marked with Reeva's blood,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Oscar Pistorius was photographed, arrested and jailed.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Within hours, everyone woke to the news.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Facing a murder charge, the South African Olympic and Paralympic star
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Oscar Pistorius is held after his girlfriend is shot dead.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11To many, it was hard to believe,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Oscar Pistorius was admired around the world.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16But in South Africa, he was a megastar.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21The Oscar Pistorius story is epic.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Born disabled, his lower legs were amputated
0:11:24 > 0:11:26when he was just 11 months old.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Yet through strength and determination,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31he made sporting history.
0:11:31 > 0:11:362012 was his professional peak - two gold medals, two world records
0:11:36 > 0:11:39and the first double amputee to take part in the Olympics,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42his nation's standard bearer.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Speaking just before London 2012,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Pistorius appeared to acknowledge that he carried the hopes of many.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52I really don't want to mess up the last six years, really,
0:11:52 > 0:11:53that I've put together.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57There have been not only my sacrifices,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01but a lot of people that have invested time and money into me.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04And it wouldn't be fair on anyone if I, you know,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07kind of lived a reckless lifestyle.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08The money was rolling in,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12an estimated £1.3 million a year in sponsorship.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17And the symbols of success - celebrity friends, fast sports cars,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19plus a new-found interest in guns,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23buying a 9mm pistol and applying for six firearm licences.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30In November 2012, back home from London, Oscar Pistorius
0:12:30 > 0:12:33started appearing in public with Reeva Steenkamp.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35The media couldn't get enough of the couple,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38two people who seemed to have everything.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40The Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius
0:12:40 > 0:12:42has been charged with murder.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46So, when news broke of a shooting at the Pistorius home...
0:12:46 > 0:12:49The incident happened in Pretoria in the early hours of the morning.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51..it reverberated around the world.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53As a South African journalist,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55and as a South African, actually,
0:12:55 > 0:12:59I mean, this is a very conflicted narrative.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Because you want to believe him.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06You really, really, really, really want to believe him.
0:13:06 > 0:13:07Was Oscar telling the truth?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Was it, as he said, all a tragic accident?
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Or were the police right? Was it premeditated murder?
0:13:13 > 0:13:17He killed her, there is no doubt of the fact that he killed her.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20But what was his intention?
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It was a question that haunted Reeva's parents, June
0:13:23 > 0:13:24and Barry Steenkamp.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27She must have suffered so much in that toilet.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Why couldn't I be protecting her?
0:13:31 > 0:13:32Cos we always protected her.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36We have to learn to live without Reeva now.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39But she was such a big part of our life.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40She never really let go of us.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44You know, a child grows up, they move on.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47But she was always... Every Saturday she phoned me.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Every Sunday she phoned her father.
0:13:49 > 0:13:56Only people that have gone through this will understand.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01It's easy for other people to look in and see and listen
0:14:01 > 0:14:04and have their thoughts.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08But only once they've gone through it will they know what we feel.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Reeva Steenkamp was Barry and June's only child together.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16They were both divorcees with families when they met
0:14:16 > 0:14:18and married in 1981.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24Beautiful outside and inside, that was her quality.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Caring and loving for others.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Probably before herself.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Before she would put herself, she would put others before her.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Well, when she was two, two years old,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40she was in the cupboard with the flour and toothpaste...
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Yeah, her whole face is covered in the flour.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- She's emptied the whole cupboard. - Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51The photoshoot for the wedding dresses on the beach.
0:14:51 > 0:14:57Out of all the photographs... this is my favourite one.
0:14:57 > 0:15:04She...loved dressing up that way with, like, wedding dresses on.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12It just makes Barry think of...
0:15:12 > 0:15:15what she would have been in her own wedding, you know?
0:15:15 > 0:15:18The Steenkamp home has become a shrine to Reeva.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Every photograph, school certificate and souvenir proudly displayed.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Among the treasured possessions, two very special paintings
0:15:26 > 0:15:30by a teenage girl which, for Mum and Dad, now suggest a hidden message.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31Here's Reeva.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34Here in... No.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39In the field next door, there's a man with a gun
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and he's standing under a tree and it's pointing towards Reeva.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46And she's standing here and she has her wings.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49And here are the steps going to heaven.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53That's how I feel, that she...
0:15:53 > 0:15:56She painted this when she was 15 years old.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00So it's quite like a premonition, almost.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02And it is unbelievable, if you think of it.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08And here's another one which is even more uncanny and...
0:16:10 > 0:16:12..chilling than the other one.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17Also of a painting that Reeva done for us when she was young.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20When we...
0:16:20 > 0:16:24When the newspapers came out and the media came out
0:16:24 > 0:16:29and the first picture that was shown was with Reeva on the toilet seat
0:16:29 > 0:16:32where she had been killed.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37- And it's virtually identical. - The position and everything.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41The position that they had shown in the newspapers.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43And I just couldn't believe it.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Images with particular meaning for parents who'd watched
0:16:46 > 0:16:49the transformation of the thoughtful schoolgirl
0:16:49 > 0:16:50into top celebrity model.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55A winning combination of intelligence, glamour
0:16:55 > 0:16:56and steely determination.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59I thought this was going to be the craziest outfit,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02but really it's not. I've seen some insane things today.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05The legal graduate intended to make the law her future.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09But in 2012, Reeva's TV career was taking off...
0:17:09 > 0:17:11We are at the Wrangler launch...
0:17:11 > 0:17:14..and she was using her growing fame to campaign -
0:17:14 > 0:17:16speaking out on violence against women.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18One just wonders what she could have done,
0:17:18 > 0:17:19wonderful things in the world.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25Especially for the abused women she was going to work for.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Just try and go to schools.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30And the day she was killed,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33the next day she was going to a school to speak to young girls
0:17:33 > 0:17:37about abused women and how they must find a voice.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40They don't have to keep quiet. They can...
0:17:40 > 0:17:45And she was going to do work in that direction, you know.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47That she was in the limelight so she could speak now
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and be heard about that.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54In South Africa, everyone heard about Reeva Steenkamp the moment
0:17:54 > 0:17:57she was first seen on a red-carpet date with Oscar Pistorius.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Hi. I'm Oscar's date tonight.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03I said to myself, "Oh, here we go."
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I thought most probably it's one of these things that
0:18:08 > 0:18:10where they go out and
0:18:10 > 0:18:15- the limelight and partner together, you know, as far as...- In events.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Advertising or events are concerned, that is what I thought.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Oscar and Reeva dated for three months, but Reeva's parents
0:18:22 > 0:18:24had almost no contact with the Olympic star.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Though there was one memorable phone call.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28She was in the car with him.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32And she said, "Mummy, Oscar's driving like an absolute lunatic.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36And she said, "I'm afraid. I'm scared."
0:18:36 > 0:18:39So I said, "You put him on the phone to me and I will talk to him."
0:18:41 > 0:18:46And I said, "If you hurt my baby
0:18:46 > 0:18:49"I will have you bumped off"
0:18:49 > 0:18:51or "wiped out," one of the two.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56And he straightaway said he's very sorry and then he put the phone down.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59And Reeva said, "He slowed down immediately."
0:18:59 > 0:19:02But weeks later, it would be a very different story.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Reeva was dead, killed by Oscar.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Preparing to travel to the trial,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10where Pistorius was to claim his innocence,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Reeva's mother had no thoughts of revenge.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14It's too late for that.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16What good is that going to do?
0:19:16 > 0:19:19That's just going to hurt me as a person.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21That's just going to rot inside me.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23I will just leave it up to the law.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29They must make the decision and then they must make the punishment.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32And I don't have things in my head that
0:19:32 > 0:19:35I want him to suffer or be, you know...
0:19:37 > 0:19:39..in jail for the rest of his life.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41It's not what I want.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45But he must take responsibility for what he's done,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47for this huge, what he says, is a mistake.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49It's a huge mistake.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53I'm sure he could have checked better or whatever.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Me personally, I'd hate to be Oscar Pistorius.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00The way he must be feeling now with the case coming up...
0:20:02 > 0:20:04..fear and worry, this and that.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08That's... I don't actually wish on my worst enemy.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- PRODUCER:- Some people might find it fascinating
0:20:15 > 0:20:17that you feel for him at this stage.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19What would you say to them?
0:20:19 > 0:20:24I wouldn't like to be him, no. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29I wouldn't like to have his feelings this evening and tomorrow.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34It must be the most awful thing to go out there
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and fight for your life, whether you're wrong or right.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38And that's it.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41- But he's the man who killed your daughter.- Yes.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44That is right. Don't... We don't forget that. We know that.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49But we do understand, like, what other people,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53whether innocent or guilty, what they feel like as well.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Both parents had intended to make the journey to the trial,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01accompanied by June's other daughter Simone, Reeva's half-sister,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04but at the last minute, plans had to change.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Yes, I have had a little bit of a problem.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09He had a stroke. He had a little stroke.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11But still, it went through his brain
0:21:11 > 0:21:13and collapsed the whole one side of his face.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- Yeah, but anyway, it's...- It's a warning, you know? It's a warning.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- But that's...- That he mustn't get upset about things.- Yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25It's the most awful feeling that June
0:21:25 > 0:21:27and Simone, going up for the trial...
0:21:29 > 0:21:33..and I can't take it. Later on, yes,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35I will most probably...
0:21:38 > 0:21:39..build up enough courage to go.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45They knew that in court the full extent
0:21:45 > 0:21:47of Reeva's injuries would be made public for
0:21:47 > 0:21:50the first time, details they didn't want to hear.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- No, that's...- Awful.- No.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- That's going to be the worst. - We've been warned about that.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- Yeah.- That there will be certain gruesome...
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- ..pictures or details. - We can't do that.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We want to know what happened, but we can't do that.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09It would just be too much.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15381 days after Reeva was killed,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17with a goodbye kiss for Reeva's dad,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19her mum set off for the murder trial.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30It was the first time that June Steenkamp would see Oscar Pistorius.
0:22:30 > 0:22:36And it'll be very hard for me to go there, but I want to go there.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39She believed it would be an important moment for herself
0:22:39 > 0:22:40and for Oscar.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I think he has to see me,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47the mother, the person who gave birth to her.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49That he's taken that away.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50That's what I want to see.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53That's why I want to look in his face and he must look in mine.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55He must see now that I am there.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58For justice for Reeva, no matter what happened.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03And the truth, obviously.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06But the encounter she imagined didn't quite happen.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12He came in and he just looked straight in front of him.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14He didn't look at me or anything.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18He...he just walked straight ahead.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20And almost with his head slightly down,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23or maybe away from me, you know?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26So I don't know if that was on purpose or what.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28- PROSECUTOR:- The first count against the accused,
0:23:28 > 0:23:29count one is one of murder.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32In the district of Pretoria, the accused did unlawfully
0:23:32 > 0:23:36and intentionally kill a person, to wit, Reeva Steenkamp.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- JUDGE:- Do you understand the charges, Mr Pistorius?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- I do, My Lady.- How do you plead?
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Not guilty, My Lady.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47JUNE: I wasn't prepared for him to say not guilty.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52But obviously he was saying not guilty to premeditated murder.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54But my daughter is dead.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55She's never coming back.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00In the year since Reeva's death,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03June Steenkamp said that she hadn't been able to fully grieve.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06But, in the courtroom, reality finally set in.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09I understood that she's gone.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11That was what came home to me.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15It just is the realisation that she's actually dead.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19This is now the truth. This has happened, it's reality.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22June Steenkamp listened to Oscar's explanation,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24read by his defence team.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27"Whilst I admit that I inflicted the fatal gunshot wounds to Reeva,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30"this occurrence was indeed an accident,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33"and I had mistakenly believed that an intruder or intruders
0:24:33 > 0:24:38"had entered my home and posed an imminent threat to Reeva and me."
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Oscar Pistorius sat in the dock as
0:24:40 > 0:24:43the prosecutor made the case against him.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46We argue that the accused version...
0:24:46 > 0:24:49The charge was that he'd invented his story about an intruder -
0:24:49 > 0:24:51he always knew it was Reeva behind the door.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56The only inference from the circumstantial evidence...
0:24:58 > 0:25:00..would be that the accused shot
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and killed the deceased with the direct intent to kill.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06The world was watching on live television.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Looks like the trial's about to start.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Witnesses had a choice -
0:25:10 > 0:25:13appear on camera or only have their voices heard.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The prosecution would be first to present its case.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Their first witness chose to stay off-camera.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Michelle Burger, a university lecturer,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24lived 193 yards from Oscar Pistorius.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28As with every witness, she addressed her answers to the judge,
0:25:28 > 0:25:29calling her "My Lady".
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I was woken up by a woman's petrified screams.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36My Lady, what I can say to the court is her shouts,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38her screams were petrifying.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41I knew something terrible was happening in that house.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I thought they were being attacked in their house.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47You only shout like that if your life is really threatened.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53But just before the gunshots, it was blood-curdling.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56It was something that leaves you cold.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59It's something you can't portray in the court.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00You can't explain it,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04you just know that woman's life was really threatened.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Barry Roux, who led the Pistorius defence team,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09challenged the witness.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12First, was she sure she heard gunshots,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14or the sound of a cricket bat striking the door?
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Why could it not have been the cricket bat
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- that you heard bashing the door? - My Lady,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23I clearly heard four gunshots after I made the telephone call.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Then, did she really hear Reeva screaming? Or was it Oscar?
0:26:26 > 0:26:29My Lady, I'm sure what I heard was a woman,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31so I'm quite convinced it wasn't Mr Pistorius.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- I know you believe you heard it. - Yeah.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39All I say is, when he's anxious, his voice, when it pitches,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42it sounds like a woman screaming.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Day one had been emotional and exhausting,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and at the end, June Steenkamp came face-to-face not with Oscar,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51but with his brother Carl.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56It was a surprise. Because no-one from the family has ever
0:26:56 > 0:27:00come towards me to say anything.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03They said they're sorry and they've done nothing,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and they're also struggling with their problems.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09So I accept that.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Reliving the events of the night
0:27:13 > 0:27:15became unbearable for some witnesses.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- WOMAN:- It was awful to hear her shout before the shots.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Madam, I know that you're emotional now. This is almost done.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27The prosecution said that if neighbours could hear
0:27:27 > 0:27:29a woman screaming before and during gunshots,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34Pistorius must have known it was Reeva, not an intruder.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37The Pistorius defence team claimed the high-pitched screams
0:27:37 > 0:27:40"could" have come from Oscar, not a woman.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43From what you assumed to have been a woman?
0:27:43 > 0:27:45- WOMAN:- That's correct.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49But you cannot be 100% correct in that assertion, can you?
0:27:49 > 0:27:51In my recollection,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56I'm 100% absolutely convinced it was a female.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Reeva's mum had returned home after day one.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02But as week three began, she was back in court.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04I feel that I have to be there.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10That my presence is a good thing for the people around me.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14To see that I'm there.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Because there were so many questions.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18"Why isn't June there?" You know?
0:28:18 > 0:28:21"Why am I not there?" I must be there.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23And I just have to be strong.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Again, she was in the same room as Oscar Pistorius.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30This time, she was able to look him in the face.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35He pointedly looked at me, stopped in front of me, and said,
0:28:35 > 0:28:36"Good morning."
0:28:36 > 0:28:37That was it.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Barry Bateman, a journalist and author of a book on the case,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45is seen in this photo, having witnessed the moment.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48And there was a slight recognition from June as well. But she's been,
0:28:48 > 0:28:52you know, quite brave to be there, and to have to listen to this here,
0:28:52 > 0:28:56and have to come face to face with the man who shot her daughter.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Days earlier, the court had heard
0:28:58 > 0:29:01the full extent of Reeva's fatal injuries.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05The autopsy report was so distressing, the judge took action.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08There shall be no broadcast of the evidence.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11In court, Oscar Pistorius wept and vomited as
0:29:11 > 0:29:13the pathologist testified.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15He became quite emotional,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18there were times when you could see he was physically ill.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19You could hear him gagging.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21It was quite nasty in court listening to this.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23As more evidence emerged,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26June Steenkamp's feelings began to harden.
0:29:26 > 0:29:31I'm angry now, when I hear the details of exactly what happened.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35I'm angry now. I'm still forgiving, but I'm angry.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38I think just the injuries,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42and the fear that she must have had in that bathroom.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Those are the things that get to me.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Straight to my soul. My heart and my soul.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54She listened to the police ballistics expert
0:29:54 > 0:29:57describe how he believed her daughter was killed.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00My opinion was that there was four shots fired at the crime scene.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04Captain Christiaan Mangena said Reeva was standing behind the door
0:30:04 > 0:30:08and facing it, when the first shot hit her right hip.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10After the infliction of the wound on the hip,
0:30:10 > 0:30:15she fell down on top of a magazine rack.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19The deceased was most probably seated in a defensive position,
0:30:19 > 0:30:23something like in this position.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26The arm was lifted up and was in front of her chest.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Three shots, to be that "doof-doof-doof".
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Pistorius covered his own head.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34He said he didn't know Reeva was behind the door.
0:30:34 > 0:30:39Meanwhile, June Steenkamp looked straight ahead.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42I just try and make myself strong.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44I don't want to be emotional in front of other people.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47That is one thing I don't want to be.
0:30:47 > 0:30:48And then when I come home,
0:30:48 > 0:30:52then everything comes out, then I can cry.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Because it is... it's too emotional for me.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58It's too much to ask any mother to do.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Too much for any mother to see that's their child
0:31:01 > 0:31:05and what they've been through, what they've suffered, how they died.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08The dramatic finale of the prosecution case -
0:31:08 > 0:31:13a text from Reeva to Oscar, three weeks before she was killed.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34"I'm scared of you sometimes and how you snap at me
0:31:34 > 0:31:37"and of how you will react to me."
0:31:38 > 0:31:41But Oscar's advocate, Barry Roux, fought back,
0:31:41 > 0:31:45introducing affectionate text messages between the couple
0:31:45 > 0:31:48and playing this CCTV footage of Oscar and Reeva kissing.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52I'm going to show you this clip and I want you to look at it
0:31:52 > 0:31:55and see if that would conform
0:31:55 > 0:31:59to the loving e-mails you have seen.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I realise that she cared for him.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06She wasn't someone who would
0:32:06 > 0:32:10continue a relationship unless she was really interested.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12You know? She was looking for a soul mate.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16And she seemed, from...
0:32:16 > 0:32:20SOME of those messages, she seemed in love.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23In love, or falling in love, maybe.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28On day 15, after calling 21 witnesses,
0:32:28 > 0:32:29the prosecution rested its case.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32- I have no further questions. - Thank you very much.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Heading to court each day
0:32:34 > 0:32:37had become one of the hardest parts of the trial for Reeva's mother.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41When I'm driving to court I get very emotional,
0:32:41 > 0:32:46because I look in the streets, and I know that she's not there.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50You understand? She's missing from the whole picture.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Her life's been taken away.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55She's never going to have a baby. She's never going to have a wedding.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I'm never going to have her grandchildren.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Those are things that we were looking forward to.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04And my child, my most precious child, is gone.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08That's just too much for me. He has taken that away from me.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12He has taken that away from me.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15FEMALE REPORTER: Murder-accused Oscar Pistorius says he relives
0:33:15 > 0:33:19the terror of killing Reeva Steenkamp every single day.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Monday, April 7th - Oscar Pistorius takes the stand.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32He begins with a direct statement to Reeva's family.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to...
0:33:40 > 0:33:42..to Mrs and Mr Steenkamp.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Like some witnesses before him,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Pistorius declined to appear on camera.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50I wake up every morning
0:33:50 > 0:33:54and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56I can't imagine the pain
0:33:56 > 0:34:00and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03I was simply trying to protect Reeva.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07I can promise that when she went to bed that night, she felt loved.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12He said their relationship was growing stronger.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14I was very keen on Reeva.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17At times we kind of spoke
0:34:17 > 0:34:23and the relationship built up to a point in mid-January,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26that we really knew that we started caring about each other,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29we started talking about future plans.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33In court there was the reference to WhatsApp messages.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Then I sent her a message saying...
0:34:52 > 0:34:56Ultimately, the judge said the messages between Reeva and Oscar
0:34:56 > 0:34:58had no bearing on the case.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04In the witness box, Oscar Pistorius told his story of what happened
0:35:04 > 0:35:06on the night Reeva died.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Must have been around... just before eight o'clock.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I came into my room and I put the...
0:35:14 > 0:35:18Opened the balcony doors. it was a very humid evening.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22He said he put two fans on the balcony
0:35:22 > 0:35:24to draw cool air into the room.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26He and Reeva then went to bed.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30I woke up in the early hours of 14th February.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34It was extremely warm in my room.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36I sat up in bed,
0:35:36 > 0:35:40I noticed that the fans were still running
0:35:40 > 0:35:43and that the door was still open,
0:35:43 > 0:35:46although the lights had been switched off.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52Reeva was still awake. She was obviously not sleeping.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55She rolled over to me and she said "Can't you sleep, my bubba?"
0:35:57 > 0:35:59And I said, "No, I can't tonight."
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Pistorius said he got out of bed and brought in the fans
0:36:03 > 0:36:06from the balcony, drawing the curtains to darken the room.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Then he heard a noise.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12It was at this point that I heard a window open in the bathroom -
0:36:12 > 0:36:16sounded like the window sliding open.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21My Lady, that's the moment that everything changed.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25I thought that there was a burglar that was gaining entry into my home.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31And I grabbed my firearm from underneath the bed.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I shouted for Reeva to get on the floor,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37I shouted for her to phone the police.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41I got to the entrance of the bathroom.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45I stood there for some time.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Not sure how long.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51I wasn't sure if somebody was going to come out of the toilet
0:36:51 > 0:36:53to attack me.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57And then I heard a noise from inside the toilet...
0:36:59 > 0:37:03..that I perceived to be somebody coming out of the toilet.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08Before I knew it I had fired four shots at the door.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Pistorius said he rushed back to the bedroom to find Reeva.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15She wasn't there.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19I think it was at that point, My Lady, that...
0:37:21 > 0:37:23..that it first dawned upon me
0:37:23 > 0:37:26that it could be Reeva that was in the...
0:37:26 > 0:37:29in the bathroom or in the toilet.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32He said that he quickly put on his prosthetic legs
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and tried to kick down the door.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38I was screaming and shouting the whole time, and crying out.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40I was crying out for the Lord to help me,
0:37:40 > 0:37:44I was crying out for Reeva, I was screaming.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47The door didn't open, so, he said, he struck it with a cricket bat,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50breaking through a wooden panel.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Whilst I leant over the partition to get in, I saw the key
0:37:56 > 0:37:58so I took it and unlocked the door
0:37:58 > 0:38:00and I flung the door open, I threw it open.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03And I sat over Reeva and I cried.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08And I don't know how long.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12I don't know how long I was there for.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16OSCAR SOBS
0:38:16 > 0:38:18She wasn't breathing.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23- JUDGE:- We'll take an adjournment.
0:38:25 > 0:38:26Court will adjourn.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29OSCAR SOBS
0:38:34 > 0:38:38Next, Oscar Pistorius' testimony would be challenged.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41He was cross-examined by the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel,
0:38:41 > 0:38:42nick-named "The Pit Bull".
0:38:42 > 0:38:44You made a mistake?
0:38:44 > 0:38:47- That's correct.- You killed a person, that's what you did, isn't it?
0:38:47 > 0:38:52- I made a mistake.- You killed Reeva Steenkamp, that's what you did.
0:38:52 > 0:38:53I made a mistake, My Lady.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56You're repeating it three times, what was your mistake?
0:38:56 > 0:38:59My mistake was that I took Reeva's life, My Lady.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01You killed her. You shot and killed her.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07- Won't you take responsibility for that?- I did, My Lady.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Say it, then. Say yes.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12"I shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp."
0:39:12 > 0:39:15- I did, My Lady.- OK.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Then the prosecutor introduced this video
0:39:18 > 0:39:21of Oscar Pistorius at a shooting range.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25- "It's a lot softer than brains but - BLEEP- it's like a zombie stopper."
0:39:25 > 0:39:31You did, you said, "It's softer than brains". Who else got brains?
0:39:31 > 0:39:34I was in that whole sentence, I was referring to a zombie.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37What we can see there is the effect
0:39:37 > 0:39:41the ammunition had on a watermelon.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46- It exploded, am I right? - That's correct.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49You know the same happened to Reeva's head.
0:39:49 > 0:39:50It exploded, have a look.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53The image was too much for many spectators,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55including Reeva's mother and relatives.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58We have blurred the photograph.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01It had the exact same effect, the bullet that went into her head.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I was there that night.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05That's it. Have a look.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08I know you don't want to because you don't want to take responsibility,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11but it's time that you look at it.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Take responsibility for what you have done, Mr Pistorius.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15My Lady, I have taken responsibility,
0:40:15 > 0:40:18by me waiting and not wanting to live my life,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21but waiting for my time on this stand,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24to tell my story for the respect of Reeva and for myself.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26I've taken responsibility but I will not look at her picture
0:40:26 > 0:40:29where I'm tormented by what I saw and felt that night.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32As I picked Reeva up, my fingers touched her head.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36I remember! I don't have to look at her picture! I was there!
0:40:36 > 0:40:39The prosecutor questioned why Pistorius didn't know Reeva
0:40:39 > 0:40:42was in the bathroom, and why he missed her getting out of bed.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44And you didn't see her get up?
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- No, I didn't see her get up. - Why not?
0:40:47 > 0:40:51I don't know how she got up out of the bed, I was in close proximity
0:40:51 > 0:40:55to her but I didn't see her get out of bed, whether she walked off
0:40:55 > 0:40:57the foot of the bed or she got out,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I didn't see that so I can't say.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04But at least you will agree with me if I say it is strange
0:41:04 > 0:41:09that you did not see her get up, you will agree? She was with you.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11It was pitch black and it was behind me,
0:41:11 > 0:41:13so it's not strange at all.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16The prosecutor closely questioned the details
0:41:16 > 0:41:19of Pistorius' version of events.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22At that stage when you shouted and screamed at Reeva
0:41:22 > 0:41:26to phone the police, she is three metres away from you.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- In a toilet. - That's correct.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31- And she never uttered a word. - That's correct.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34It's not possible. It's not probable.
0:41:34 > 0:41:40In fact, you knew Reeva was behind the door and you shot at her,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42that's the only thing that makes sense.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46- It's not true, My Lady. - She was talking to you.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51She was standing right in front of the toilet door, talking to you,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- when you shot her.- That's not true, My Lady.- That's the only...
0:41:54 > 0:41:58reasonable explanation for her standing upright.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01That's the only reasonable explanation why you shot her
0:42:01 > 0:42:04in the head where you did.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07That's not true, My Lady.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10The cross examination lasted more than four days.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Pistorius broke down several times.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15I can see that Mr Pistorius is distressed
0:42:15 > 0:42:18and I understand that he should be distressed.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21May I then ask that the court just adjourn?
0:42:21 > 0:42:22At the end of his testimony,
0:42:22 > 0:42:25questioned by his own defence barrister,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Oscar Pistorius read from the Valentine's card
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Reeva left for him on the night she died.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34"It says on front of the card "Roses are red, violets are blue."
0:42:34 > 0:42:38And then on the inside she wrote the date on the left
0:42:38 > 0:42:40and on the right she says,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43"I think today is a good day to tell you that..."
0:42:43 > 0:42:46And then it says, "I love you."
0:42:46 > 0:42:48The defence then called other neighbours,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51not included in the prosecution case. These neighbours lived closer
0:42:51 > 0:42:54to the house but unlike the prosecution witnesses,
0:42:54 > 0:42:58said they only heard the cries of a man.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00I heard a man crying.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06And to me the cry, My Lady, it was a cry of pain.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09The person was very desperate for help.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12So also, we felt that probably he is in danger.
0:43:12 > 0:43:18I then heard the sound of a male person crying.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20A very loud sound.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23Is it possible to make a sound that would resemble it?
0:43:23 > 0:43:25WITNESS WAILS
0:43:25 > 0:43:27But in a voice of a man.
0:43:27 > 0:43:31Defence witnesses also offered expert testimony on ballistics,
0:43:31 > 0:43:33forensics and acoustics.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35A sound engineer questioned prosecution evidence
0:43:35 > 0:43:40that shouts and screams could be heard 177 metres away.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43At 177m away,
0:43:43 > 0:43:46if the scream was from the toilet,
0:43:46 > 0:43:49it is very unlikely that a listener can hear a scream,
0:43:49 > 0:43:52let alone interpret a sound source reliably.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55A psychiatrist claimed Oscar Pistorius was suffering
0:43:55 > 0:43:58from generalised anxiety disorder,
0:43:58 > 0:44:00which may have affected his behaviour on the night.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04That the accused present himself as an outpatient
0:44:04 > 0:44:08to the medical superintendent of the Weskoppies Hospital.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11That theory was ruled out after a 30-day assessment,
0:44:11 > 0:44:15though one psychologist's evaluation was presented by the defence.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19No evidence could be found to indicate that Mr Pistorius has
0:44:19 > 0:44:22the history of abnormal aggression or explosive violence.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26When Mr Pistorius' appraisal of a situation is that he might be
0:44:26 > 0:44:30physically threatened, a fear response follows which might seem
0:44:30 > 0:44:34extraordinary when viewed of a perspective of an able-bodied person
0:44:34 > 0:44:40but normal in the context of a disabled person with his history.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42The final defence witness was a sports physician
0:44:42 > 0:44:45who had worked with Oscar Pistorius for six years.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49Professor Wayne Derman told the judge that Pistorius had shown signs
0:44:49 > 0:44:52of psychological stress, and that his disability
0:44:52 > 0:44:54does make him feel vulnerable.
0:44:54 > 0:44:58I've also found Mr Pistorius to be hyper vigilant,
0:44:58 > 0:45:02to looking around - it is a scanning for potential threat,
0:45:02 > 0:45:06with an end to move oneself out of harm's way.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09He recalled his last conversation with Oscar Pistorius
0:45:09 > 0:45:11before the shooting.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14The call I received from him on 2nd February 2013.
0:45:14 > 0:45:19I then asked him how life had settled down after London.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22To which he responded that he was at that moment
0:45:22 > 0:45:25lying next to the most wonderful girl that he had met.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29He also told me that he could not wait for me to meet her.
0:45:30 > 0:45:35On August 7th, the trial entered its final stages.
0:45:35 > 0:45:36Barry Steenkamp, Reeva's dad,
0:45:36 > 0:45:40had recovered sufficiently from his stroke to attend court,
0:45:40 > 0:45:44where he came face to face with Oscar Pistorius for the first time.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47Summing up, the prosecutor said
0:45:47 > 0:45:51Pistorius' version was not reasonably possibly true,
0:45:51 > 0:45:53and contained lies.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57You tell one and it just becomes too much.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01You just have to keep going and keep going with these lies.
0:46:01 > 0:46:05The prosecutor focused on the shooting, arguing that
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Pistorius would have been aware of the potential consequences.
0:46:09 > 0:46:15If you fire four shots into a small cubicle with high-powered firearm
0:46:15 > 0:46:16with Black Talon ammunition,
0:46:16 > 0:46:19you foresee the possibility that you will kill somebody.
0:46:19 > 0:46:23Reeva's parents listened to the closing arguments for the defence.
0:46:23 > 0:46:27Advocate Barry Roux said Oscar's version had never changed -
0:46:27 > 0:46:30the shooting was a terrible accident.
0:46:30 > 0:46:32He was anxious.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35He was fearful.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40And he stands now with his finger ready to fire if necessary.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45And he stand there, and then...
0:46:45 > 0:46:49If I stand behind someone with his finger on that trigger
0:46:49 > 0:46:53and he's in a fearful state and I clap my hands behind him,
0:46:53 > 0:46:55in some instances a person will fire, reflexive -
0:46:55 > 0:46:57in some instances not.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01He focused on the timeline,
0:47:01 > 0:47:04saying the shooting had most likely happened at 3:12,
0:47:04 > 0:47:06but the prosecution claimed
0:47:06 > 0:47:09it happened five minutes later at 3:17am.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12If that timing was wrong, it weakened the state's case
0:47:12 > 0:47:15about the timing of shots and screams.
0:47:18 > 0:47:22Did the state prove to you
0:47:22 > 0:47:27that the only reasonable inference is
0:47:27 > 0:47:29that the shots were at 3:17,
0:47:29 > 0:47:33and that that inference excludes all other reasonable inferences?
0:47:34 > 0:47:37You have to ignore all these probabilities
0:47:37 > 0:47:39and all these objective facts to do that.
0:47:39 > 0:47:44And say, "Never, ever, it cannot be, it cannot be."
0:47:44 > 0:47:47And that's the difficulty in the state's case.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50And as to why Reeva did not respond from behind the door
0:47:50 > 0:47:53to Oscar's shouts, he offered these possibilities.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55She could have done two things.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58She could have given her position away.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01She heard him screaming "intruders in the house," and "must get out".
0:48:01 > 0:48:04Or she can think "I must hide, I must keep quiet -
0:48:04 > 0:48:06"I don't want them to get to me."
0:48:07 > 0:48:10September 12, 2014.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14193 days since the trial began.
0:48:14 > 0:48:18574 days since the death of Reeva Steenkamp.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20Judgment day.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23South Africa does not have a jury system.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26The verdict was down to presiding Judge Thokozile Masipa,
0:48:26 > 0:48:28assisted by two assessors.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31Mr Pistorius, please stand up.
0:48:31 > 0:48:36Having regard to the totality of this evidence in this matter,
0:48:36 > 0:48:40the unanimous decision of this court is the following.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43On count one, murder,
0:48:43 > 0:48:49the accused is found not guilty and is discharged.
0:48:49 > 0:48:54Instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58Guilty of culpable homicide. Manslaughter.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01The shooting was negligent, not deliberate.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03In respect of count one,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06evidence led by the state in respect of this count
0:49:06 > 0:49:10was purely circumstantial.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14It was not strong circumstantial evidence.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Moreover, the evidence of various witnesses,
0:49:17 > 0:49:21who gave evidence on what they heard
0:49:21 > 0:49:25in what sequence and when,
0:49:25 > 0:49:27proved to be unreliable.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33The accused denied the allegations notwithstanding that he was
0:49:33 > 0:49:36an unimpressive witness.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39The accused gave a version which could reasonably,
0:49:39 > 0:49:41possibly be true.
0:49:41 > 0:49:46In criminal law, that is all that is required for an acquittal.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50The accused was clearly not candid with the court
0:49:50 > 0:49:55when he said that he had no intention to shoot at anyone,
0:49:55 > 0:49:59as he had a loaded firearm in his hand ready to shoot.
0:50:01 > 0:50:06However, as stated above, untruthful evidence does not always justify
0:50:06 > 0:50:10the conclusion that the accused is guilty.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15The conduct of the accused shortly after the incident
0:50:15 > 0:50:18is inconsistent with the conduct of someone
0:50:18 > 0:50:21who had intention to commit murder.
0:50:21 > 0:50:25He acted promptly in seeking help soon after the incident,
0:50:25 > 0:50:30he shouted for help, he called a friend,
0:50:30 > 0:50:34he called 911, he called security,
0:50:34 > 0:50:38although he could not speak as he was crying.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41He prayed to God to save the deceased's life,
0:50:41 > 0:50:45he was seen trying to resuscitate the deceased,
0:50:45 > 0:50:50and he pleaded with Dr Stipp to help, and he was distraught.
0:50:52 > 0:50:58From the above it cannot be said that the accused did not entertain
0:50:58 > 0:51:03a genuine belief that there was an intruder in the toilet
0:51:03 > 0:51:05who posed a threat to him.
0:51:05 > 0:51:09Therefore, he could not be found guilty of murder.
0:51:09 > 0:51:14However, the accused acted negligently when he fired shots
0:51:14 > 0:51:18into the toilet door, knowing that there was someone behind the door,
0:51:18 > 0:51:22and that there was very little room in which to manoeuvre.
0:51:22 > 0:51:28A reasonable person in the position of the accused
0:51:28 > 0:51:31with similar disability
0:51:31 > 0:51:37would have foreseen that possibility that whoever was behind the door
0:51:37 > 0:51:39might be killed by the shots,
0:51:39 > 0:51:44and would have taken steps to avoid the consequences.
0:51:44 > 0:51:49Afterwards, members of the Pistorius family responded to the verdict.
0:51:49 > 0:51:54We would really like to show how deep...
0:51:54 > 0:51:58grateful we are for Judge Masipa,
0:51:58 > 0:52:02that has found Oscar not guilty of murder.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04We had never any doubt
0:52:04 > 0:52:07in Oscar's version...
0:52:07 > 0:52:11of this tragic incident.
0:52:11 > 0:52:16We as a family remain deeply affected
0:52:16 > 0:52:21by the devastating tragedy event.
0:52:22 > 0:52:27And it won't bring Reeva back
0:52:27 > 0:52:32but our hearts still go out for her family and friends.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35Oscar Pistorius remains free on bail
0:52:35 > 0:52:37until his sentencing hearing in October.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40The verdict of culpable homicide could mean a prison sentence
0:52:40 > 0:52:42of up to 15 years,
0:52:42 > 0:52:45but the judge could decide to suspend the sentence
0:52:45 > 0:52:47or impose a fine.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52In their first interview after the verdict, June and Barry Steenkamp
0:52:52 > 0:52:54gave their reaction.
0:52:56 > 0:52:57Very disappointing.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00Very, very disappointing.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04It's never going to settle with us, the outcome.
0:53:04 > 0:53:09They believe his story and I don't believe that story.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11That's the difference.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15I feel that all of this could have been prevented
0:53:15 > 0:53:18right in the beginning, before the case.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21I'm talking about Oscar Pistorius.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23If he thought that there was somebody there...
0:53:25 > 0:53:29..his balcony windows were open, he could have shouted for help,
0:53:29 > 0:53:32he could have pressed an alarm, he could have done everything,
0:53:32 > 0:53:35we wouldn't have had this case today.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38That is why I don't believe his story.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41There are so many things that he could have done
0:53:41 > 0:53:45to prevent this catastrophe.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47Did they still forgive him?
0:53:47 > 0:53:52Yes, I don't want to carry poison in my body from that.
0:53:52 > 0:53:57If you keep on about that person and going on,
0:53:57 > 0:54:00you are just going to make yourself ill.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02We have to get past that.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09Before I give any forgiveness I want to talk to him.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17Won't be anything nasty or anything like that,
0:54:17 > 0:54:21but I'd like to sit down and have a talk to him.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28- And I'm sure that will come about. - It will.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34He did ask to speak to us but we weren't ready for that,
0:54:34 > 0:54:36quite a while ago.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38You don't actually want to talk to someone
0:54:38 > 0:54:41who's done that to your child.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45It's not to say you will forgive after having a chat,
0:54:45 > 0:54:48but I'm sure it would help.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51Did they think the trial had delivered justice for Reeva?
0:54:51 > 0:54:53No, definitely not.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Very, very disappointed.
0:54:56 > 0:54:58And very sad, it's sad, you know?
0:54:58 > 0:55:02Because you want that for Reeva, justice for her.
0:55:04 > 0:55:08She died a horrible death, a horrible, painful,
0:55:08 > 0:55:12terrible death and she suffered, you know?
0:55:12 > 0:55:14And he...
0:55:14 > 0:55:16shot through the door
0:55:16 > 0:55:21and I can't believe that they believe that it was an accident.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23And what of the future?
0:55:23 > 0:55:26There's never going to be closure.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29Especially now, with this verdict.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32How can there be closure?
0:55:32 > 0:55:34She's not coming back.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38We just have to try and move on with our life.
0:55:39 > 0:55:44I'm going to build shelters for the abused women,
0:55:44 > 0:55:46raise money for that.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48We're not the only ones in the world
0:55:48 > 0:55:52that are going through a crisis like this, or have been through it.
0:55:53 > 0:55:58But I'm sure...
0:55:58 > 0:56:01that most people will understand...
0:56:01 > 0:56:03what we've been through.
0:56:03 > 0:56:07And I would just like to see it all come to an end now.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10And for ourselves to carry on.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17I wanted the truth. I don't think we got the truth,
0:56:17 > 0:56:21that's the whole point. We did not get the truth.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23Less than two years earlier,
0:56:23 > 0:56:27the paths of two young and successful people crossed...
0:56:27 > 0:56:30Hi. I'm Oscar's date tonight.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32He needed a date at the last minute, so he's like,
0:56:32 > 0:56:36"Reeva, just throw your stuff together and come and be my date."
0:56:36 > 0:56:39..their destinies now bound together - the glamorous model
0:56:39 > 0:56:42and the world's most famous disabled athlete.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46Now, Oscar Pistorius must begin to live with the judge's verdict
0:56:46 > 0:56:49of how he killed Reeva Steenkamp.