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Oscar Pistorius should never be freed says brother of Reeva Steenkamp

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Reeva Steenkamp
Reeva Steenkamp's uncle Mike (left) and her brother Adam (right) after her memorial service in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (Image: Mike Sheehan/EPA/REX/Shutterstock)

The brother of slain model Reeva Steenkamp says he doesn't wish any harm against Oscar Pistorius but stressed he must remain in prison for killing his sister.

Paralympic multi-gold medallist Pistorius was found guilty of killing his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva after mistaking her for a burglar and letting off a number of shots into his bathroom door in Pretoria, South Africa.

He was originally sentenced to around five years in prison for culpable homicide, a charge that was later upgraded to murder and an additional nine years were added to the sentence.

Today marks 10 years since Pistorius, now 36, killed Reeva on Valentine's Day 2013, but he could be released on parole within a matter of weeks.

Oscar Pistorius should never be freed says brother of Reeva Steenkamp qhiqqhidqziqueprwPistorius in crime scene photographs (Daily Mirror)
Oscar Pistorius should never be freed says brother of Reeva SteenkampReeva and Pistorius during an awards ceremony in Johannesburg (AFP/Getty Images)

Now her half-brother Adam, 46, says he is fearful that Reeva's loved ones will never understand what happened on that day.

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He said he agrees with other family members that Oscar is "unrepentant and obviously still does not take responsibility for the murder of my sister and that he should continue to serve his time".

Adam added that while he doesn't believe Pistorius' account, he no longer wishes bad things for him, he told The Sun.

Speaking from his home in the UK, Adam said: "It’s ruined Oscar’s life, it’s obviously ruined Reeva’s — it was the end of it — and it’s had a ruinous effect on our family. My father and my stepmother June will never come to terms with it.

Oscar Pistorius should never be freed says brother of Reeva SteenkampPistorius in the courtroom (AFP/Getty Images)

“I don’t think we’ll ever know exactly what happened in that house but I don’t wish bad things on him.

“Ten years is a long time to reflect on your actions but it is not up to me when he is released and, to be honest, I don’t really care if he’s shown enough remorse. It’s not going to change anything."

He said he hopes his family can now look to the future and try to find some way through the grief, adding that he misses his half sister every day.

Oscar Pistorius should never be freed says brother of Reeva SteenkampPistorius earned six gold medals at the Paralympics (PA)

At the time of the killing, Adam and Reeva had been organising a trip for her to visit the UK to meet his children for the first time.

Adam, who moved to the UK when he was 13 years old, recalled the day he learned the "devastating" news of the death of his sister, who was seven years his junior.

He remembered it being like any regular day as he jumped in the car and drived away from home.

On the radio, the news blared out details of something horrendous happening linked to Pistorius.

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Though her name hadn't been mentioned, Adam said he automatically knew it was his beloved sister. He called their dad for the "ultimate confirmation" of Reeva's death.

Ryan Fahey

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