Steenkamps convinced Pistorius meant to kill their daughter

The parents of the late South African model Reeva Steenkamp told Australia's Channel Seven that they remain devastated by the death of their daughter, and that they are convinced that Pistorius deliberately killed her.

"How can 10 months be enough?" Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp said in the interview broadcast on Sunday evening. "He killed her. He admits he killed her. She's dead. Why didn't he just let her walk away? Why?"

"What actually came out in court is not the truth," asserted Steenkamp's father, Barry Steenkamp. "He got angry, she went off to the toilet, locked herself inside, and then him pulling out the gun and shooting."

Back in September, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide, a charge equivalent to manslaughter over the shooting death of Steemburg, his live-in girlfriend. A month later, the court in Pretoria handed him a five-year sentence.

Shot through a locked bathroom door

During the nine-week-long trial the Paralympic medalist, who wears carbon-fiber prosthetics on both legs and made history by competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, admitted that he had shot Steenburg through the locked door of a bathroom in their home in February, 2013.

Pistorius expressed remorse for her death, saying he didn't know that it was her behind the door, instead thinking it was an intruder.

The "Blade Runner" as he became popularly known due to the shape of the prosthetics, had been due to be released from prison last Friday after having served 10 months of his sentence, but Justice Minister Michael Masutha stepped in to prevent his release.

If convicted of murder Pistorius could face a sentence of at least 15 years in prison. The appeal hearing is to set to begin in November.

pfd/jil (AFP, Reuters)