Damning new evidence suggesting underlying domestic violence in the relationship between Paralympian blade runner Oscar Pistorius and his late model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp has emerged.
At Pistorius’ murder trial, the court was presented with text messages from Steenkamp to her sports star boyfriend in the weeks before her death stating “I’m scared of u” and complaining of being “attacked by you” and feeling “very unhappy and sad”.
The messages are in stark contrast to the public image presented by the glamorous celebrity couple, who posed together smiling at a sports awards event a week before her death.
After leaving the function, Steenkamp texted: “I can’t be attacked by outsiders for dating you AND be attacked by you, the one person I deserve protection from.”
Further evidence of emotional abuse was relayed in earlier messages from a seemingly fearful Steenkamp to an apparently controlling Pistorius during their three-month relationship.
After an apparent row driven by his jealousy at a friend’s engagement party, she texted: “I was not flirting with anyone today. I feel sick that u suggested that and that u made a scene at the table and made us leave early.”
On another occasion, she wrote: “I’m scared of u sometimes and how u snap at me and of how u will react to me. You make me happy 90% of the time and I think we are amazing together … But I’m also the girl that gets side-stepped when you are in a shit mood.”
She finished the message with a suggestion of uncertainty of their future together: “I just want to love and be loved. Be happy and make someone SO happy. Maybe we can’t do that for each other. Cos right now I know u aren’t happy and I am certainly very unhappy and sad.”
Another message hints that double amputee Pistorius had been angry with Steenkamp for allegedly humiliating him in front of other people. It appears she tries to appease him.
“I like to believe that I make u proud when I attend these kinds of functions with u,” she wrote. “I didn’t think you would criticise me … especially not so loudly so that others could hear. I’m a person too and I appreciate that you invited me tonight I realise u get harassed but I’m trying my best to make you happy and I feel as though u sometimes never are no matter the effort I put in.”
There is no suggestion that Pistorius was physically abusive prior to Steenkamp’s death.
Steenkamp died in the bathroom of her boyfriend’s luxury apartment on Valentine’s Day last year in a volley of gunshots at the hands of Pistorius, who claims he mistook her for a night time intruder.
The Australian Women’s Weekly has teamed up with White Ribbon Australia in a campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence, which will touch the lives of one in three Australian women. Actress Rachael Taylor told her exclusive story in the April issue. In the May issue, out on Thursday, another high-profile Australian will talk about his personal experience of domestic violence.
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