He wanted justice for his daughter up until his last day on earth. When he heard about her gruesome death, he was inconsolable. The family of Barry Steenkamp, the father of Reeva Steenkamp, has since confirmed his passing at the age of 80.

PASSING PEACEFULLY

His family lawyer Tania Koen confirmed that Barry died on Friday morning, peacefully in his sleep. "It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the sudden and peaceful passing of Barry Steenkamp in his sleep on the early evening of 14 September 2023. Barry was a blessing to many, and he will be remembered with great fondness," Tania shares in a statement. "We find solace in the knowledge that he is now with his beloved Reeva." The Reeva Foundation also confirmed the sad news. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and peaceful passing of Barry Steenkamp in his sleep, on the early evening of 14 September 2023.

Barry was a blessing to many, and he will be remembered with love and great fondness.

We find solace in the knowledge that he is now with his beloved Reeva."

REEVA’S DEATH

It has been 10 years since Barry’s daughter, Reeva was shot and killed by former Paralympian athlete and lover Oscar Pistorius on Valentine’s Day in 2013. At the time of his trial, Oscar told the court he believed Steenkamp was an intruder entering his home and shot four times with his licensed 9 mm pistol through a closed toilet cubicle door in his bathroom, where Reeva was, hitting her multiple times. Oscar was initially convicted of culpable homicide, comparable to manslaughter, in 2014. The case went through several appeals, including by the prosecution before he was sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison for murder in 2017. But has since applied to be released on parole after serving more than half of his 13-year sentence for murder. At the time of Oscar’s parole hearing in August this year, the Steenkamp lawyer said the family would no longer oppose the application, which they had previously done. The Steenkamp family said they needed Oscar to come clean on the events on the night their daughter died.