Graphic pictures of murdered Reeva Steenkamp may now be published - with the blessing of her parents and the court.
During his emotional testimony on Tuesday, in aggravation of sentencing for Reeva’s killer Oscar Pistorius, Barry Steenkamp pleaded for the court to lift a ban on the media, prohibiting them from publishing the photos.
The dad was speaking of his pain of having to live without his daughter, and imagining what she went through moments before her brutal death.
Barry, who was shaking and crying as he spoke in the North Gauteng High Court, said: “I want the world to see. I want the world to see the photos of the wounds inflicted on her. To know my daughter’s pain. To know what her last few seconds were like, so that this is stopped - so that others do not have to go through this ever.”
On Wednesday Judge Thokozile Masipa lifted a ban on the publication of crime scene pictures as well as graphic pictures of the deceased.
The images released show the blonde model lying on the floor with her face up, with dried blood coming out of her nostrils.
More blood is on the back of her neck where a visible gunshot wound can be seen at the back of her head.
There are also photos of the bloody bathroom floor, the murder weapon lying on top of a grey towel with blood splatter next to it.
A picture of a blood-soaked Pistorius was also made available, who can be seen wearing shorts and standing on his prosthetic legs which were also covered in blood.