Reunited with Reeva: Did Barry Steenkamp die of a broken heart?
After suffering two strokes during her murder trial and grappling with grief, many believe Reeva Steenkamp’s dad died a ‘broken’ man.
Barry, the 80-year-old father of the late model Reeva Steenkamp, has tragically died. And many South Africans think it was over a broken heart after she was murdered a decade ago by Oscar Pistorius.
According to a foundation, the Port Elizabeth man died in his sleep on Thursday, 14 September.
His death comes just one month after both he and his wife, June, celebrated what would have been Reeva’s 40th birthday.
REEVA STEENKAMP FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES BARRY’S DEATH
In a statement, the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation shared: “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.
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“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”.
In May, Barry celebrated his milestone 80th birthday. Just three months later, he and his wife June would remember Reeva on what would’ve been her 40th birthday.
But many remarked how the image of the elderly couple was anything but celebratory.
Accompanying Barry during the meeting was the Steenkamp family attorney, Tania Koen.
She said of the experience: “The feeling in the room was an overwhelming sense of grief and sadness because, on the one hand, we had Barry, the father of Reeva, who had to face his daughter’s killer. And on the other hand, Oscar was obviously sad, full of remorse and regret, and also very tearful”.
However, she quickly added of Pistorius: “I don’t believe Oscar’s version, and I don’t believe he told Barry the truth.”