Oscar Pistorius family releases statement, lashes out at social media users

The family of South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius, who was charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February, is lashing out at social media users who they say are disregarding the pain Steenkamp’s family is going through.

In a statement released to media Thursday the Pistorius family said:

“The disregard that is being shown by some — specifically those commenting via social media — for the profound pain that Reeva’s family and friends are going through is very troubling. There is not a moment in the day that Oscar does not mourn for his girlfriend and Reeva’s family, and all those who were close to her are in his thoughts constantly.”

Pistorius maintains that he shot Steenkamp by accident when his mistook her for an intruder in the bathroom of his Pretoria home. Prosecutors say that Steenkamp was hiding in the bathroom when Pistorius intentionally shot her.

Anneliese Burgess, who is acting as a spokesperson for the Pistorius family, told South African media that Pistorius has, indeed, spent time with those close to Steenkamp in the past weeks to share memories of his slain girlfriend. “For Oscar, the process is incredibly overwhelming as he struggles not only to deal with manner in which he lost his girlfriend, but also his role in it,” Burgess said.

Pistorius has been living at his uncle Arnold’s home in Pretoria since he was released on bail in February. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 4.