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Slain Pistorius girlfriend leaves haunting TV message
AFP
Last Updated IST
This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by 'Ice Models' in South Africa shows South African model Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead on February 14, 2013 by her South African Olympic sprint star boyfriend Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius has been charged with the Valentine's Day murder of Steenkamp, police confirmed on February 14, ahead of his expected court appearance. South African police played down reports that Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend thinking she was an intruder, saying they had dealt with domestic incidents at his residence and will oppose bail. AFP PHOTO
This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by 'Ice Models' in South Africa shows South African model Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead on February 14, 2013 by her South African Olympic sprint star boyfriend Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius has been charged with the Valentine's Day murder of Steenkamp, police confirmed on February 14, ahead of his expected court appearance. South African police played down reports that Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend thinking she was an intruder, saying they had dealt with domestic incidents at his residence and will oppose bail. AFP PHOTO

A celebrity television show today aired haunting footage of Oscar Pistorius's slain girlfriend speaking about the need to leave a positive mark on life, words laden with unintended poignancy two days after her shocking 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," Reeva Steenkamp said in a snippet of a celebrity reality TV show set to air in full later today.

"You have either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way." The 29-year-old model and law school graduate was shot four times at Pistorius's home in the early hours of Valentine's Day on Thursday in a case that shocked the country and topped news broadcasts around the world.

Pistorius -- a national icon who inspired people around the world when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the Olympic Games last year -- remained in a police cell today, charged with murdering his girlfriend in cold blood.

His uncle today gave the strongest indication yet that the star athlete, who broke down sobbing during his initial court appearance the previous day, would plead not guilty to the charges against him.

"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 indeed any murder at all," Arnold Pistorius said in a statement.

"We are all grieving for Reeva, her family and her friends," he said. "Oscar -- as you can imagine -- is also numb with shock as well as grief."

The track star faces a life sentence if convicted of premeditated murder, as alleged by state prosecutors.

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(Published 17 February 2013, 02:54 IST)