Oscar Pistorius trial: Family says truth was 'manipulated'

The South African Paralympic sprinter will be sentenced on Tuesday

Oscar Pistorius' siblings have criticised media coverage of his trial, on the eve of the South African athlete's sentencing.

Aimee and Carl Pistorius said they were anxious ahead of Tuesday's hearing, and that the truth had been "twisted and manipulated" and "sensationalised".

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide after shooting dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but cleared of murder.

The prosecution has argued for a minimum 10-year jail sentence.

'Polarised publicity'

Speaking to South African broadcaster eNCA, Aimee Pistorius said there was "obviously a lot of anxiety" ahead of the sentencing, and that the last 20 months had been "very taxing".

She said she felt "heartache for both my brother, our family and of course Steenkamp's family and her friends", adding that both families would struggle to move on.

"It's something that you never really get closure on... It's something that my brother will carry with him for the rest of his life.

"It is important for us that [Ms Steenkamp's family] know that she was very much cared for and loved, and accepted as part of our family in the short time that she was with us... [Reeva] had a wonderful charisma and zest for life that she just exuded and it was easy to just fall in love with her."

She added: "The truths had been twisted and manipulated, and things have been sensationalised. It causes hurt when things are also reported as fact when they are not." Continue

BBC