JOHANNESBURG -- Reeva Steenkamp's last wish for her family before she was shot dead at boyfriend Oscar Pistorius' home was for them to watch her in a reality TV show that went on air in South Africa on Saturday night, two days after her killing.
Sharon Steenkamp, Reeva's cousin, said that the model and law school graduate was "proud of being in the show" and reminded them in their last conversation to make sure that they watched it.The South African Broadcasting Corp. aired the Tropika Island of Treasure program, showing the late Steenkamp -- the victim of a Valentine's Day shooting at the home of Pistorius, the Olympic star and double-amputee athlete. She was laughing and smiling, and blowing a kiss toward the camera in Jamaica when it was filmed last year.SABC said it was dedicated to Steenkamp and displayed the words "Reeva Steenkamp 19 August 1983 - 14 February 2013" between images of a rose and a candle in a short tribute before the show aired.The country was rocked Thursday when news broke of Steenkamp's shooting death at the upscale house of the star athlete. Pistorius was arrested and charged with her murder.The 26-year-old track star has been a national hero and icon dubbed the Blade Runner for his high-tech carbon fiber running blades and revered for overcoming his disability to compete at the London Olympics.He remains at a police station pending a bail hearing Tuesday.His uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said Saturday that the runner is "numb with shock as well as grief" over the death of Steenkamp, 29, who was shot four times.Prosecutors are seeking to upgrade the charge against Pistorius to one of premeditated murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison."After consulting with legal representatives, we deeply regret the allegation of premeditated murder," Arnold Pistorius said. "We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the state's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or murder as such."The family's denial that Pistorius committed murder doesn't necessarily mean that they say he didn't shoot her, as murder is a legal term. Initial speculation suggested that it could have been accidental.Arnold Pistorius did not discuss the circumstances of the shooting but said that his nephew and Steenkamp "had plans together, and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
