BBC News — Prosecutors have been outlining their case for South African athlete Oscar Pistorius to serve a jail term for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The first prosecution witness at the sentencing hearing was Ms Steenkamp’s cousin, Kim Martin. Pistorius was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder. Meanwhile the Steenkamp family released a new statement saying they wanted no money from Pistorius. The sentencing hearing has adjourned for Wednesday and is due to resume on Thursday. The defence has argued that Pistorius should not be jailed for the killing – a suggestion branded as “shockingly inappropriate” by the prosecutor, Gerrie Nel. Mr Nel said that he would call three or four witnesses. The first to take the stand on Wednesday was Kim Martin. With her voice breaking, Ms Martin said Reeva was the first baby she had ever held. Ms Martin said Reeva was meticulous and hard working at school and that “family was everything to her”. She described how her cousin had taken up modelling to help support her parents financially. Ms Steenkamp’s father, Barry, wept as Ms Martin spoke. The BBC’s Andrew Harding says this is the first time the court is hearing about Ms Steenkamp outside of the context of her relationship with Pistorius. more
