The killing has put Pistorius’s career on hold, forcing him to cancel races in Australia, Brazil, Britain and the United States between March and May.
The Johannesburg-born athlete, whose nickname was inspired by his custom-built carbon-fibre running blades, had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old after being born without lower leg bones.
In Port Elizabeth, Steenkamp’s coffin with white flowers laid on top was carried into the chapel at the crematorium as sombre-faced mourners exchanged hugs.
“It’s kind of only sinking in now that I’m actually here, that she’s really gone,” said Bongiwe Gaxambaa, one of Steenkamp’s classmates at a local private Catholic school.
“Why my little girl? Why did this happen? Why did he do this?” June Steenkamp told the Times of South Africa.
In an interview published on Monday, Steenkamp’s mother described Reeva’s death as “horrendous.”
“Why my little girl? Why did this happen? Why did he do this?” June Steenkamp told the Times of South Africa.
“She had so much of herself to give and now all that is gone. Just like that, she is gone… In the blink of an eye and a single breath, the most beautiful person who ever lived is no longer here.”
The family said bore the runner no grudge but wanted clarity about Steenkamp’s death.
“The family haven’t got that animosity or hatred or anything like that but questions, and we realise that it’s going to come out,” Reeva’s uncle Michael Steenkamp told AFP.
On Saturday a celebrity television show aired haunting footage of Steenkamp speaking about the need to leave a positive mark on life, words laden with poignancy after her death.
“Not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and make your exit is so important, you have either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way,” she said.
Pistorius, who off the track has a rocky private life of rash behaviour, beautiful women, guns and fast cars, has built up a powerful team of lawyers, medical specialists and public relations experts for his defence.
Stuart Higgins, a former editor of British tabloid The Sun, whose lengthy list of clients includes British Airways, Chelsea FC and Manchester United football club, has taken over his public relations.
One of his lawyers, Kenny Oldwage, defended the driver in a 2010 accident that killed former president Nelson Mandela’s great-grandchild Zenani. The driver was acquitted.
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