The sister of Reeva Steenkamp has said that she and her family believe that Oscar Pistorius is not telling the truth about what happened on the night he shot and killed his girlfriend.
Simone Steenkamp branded the Olympic athlete a “disgusting liar” who is trying to avoid a life sentence as he stands trial for the murder of the 29-year-old law graduate and model.
Speaking from her parents' home in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Ms Steenkamp said: “He is trying to convince the court that they were really close and he cared for her. It's not true. He is a disgusting liar.”
Ms Steenkamp, who attended the start of the trial alongside her mother June Steenkamp, said that she was not convinced by Pistorius' show of remorse for the shooting on Valentine's Day last year.
“It was so scary,” she said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.
“My heart stopped as he walked past, ignoring us. I like to think his heart stopped too. He knew we were there but he almost lost his balance and fell over when he saw us.
“Then he sat in the dock, smirking. He killed my sister and yet he still seems to be enjoying his celebrity status.
“During the adjournments he marched around as if he was still a star while my mother and I just wanted to hide away. I don't understand how anyone could commit that act - kill someone - and behave like that.”
In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial
In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial
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1/89 Oscar Pistorius arrives at court
Oscar Pistorius arrives at court prior to another day of cross examination during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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2/89 Oscar Pistorius arrives at court
Oscar Pistorius is greeted by the "Support for Oscar" Facebook group members as he arrives at the Pretoria High Court
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3/89 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel walks past a courtroom reconstruction of the toilet in which Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed during Oscar Pistorius' murder trial at the high court in Pretoria
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4/89 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel gestures as he explains a possible scenario into how Oscar Pistorius might have fired on girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in court in Pretoria
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5/89 The door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot used as evidence in court
The door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot used as evidence and displayed during the Oscar Pistorius murder trial at the high court in Pretoria
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6/89 Oscar Pistorius leaves court
Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria
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7/89 June Steenkamp in court
June Steenkamp, mother of Reeva, is comforted by unidentified relative after her dead daughter's picture was shown on screen during the trial of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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8/89 Aimee Pistorius and Lois Pistorius in court
Sister of Oscar Pistorius, Aimee Pistorius (L) and aunt Lois Pistorius (R) listen as Oscar Pistorius testifies in court in Pretoria
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9/89 Gina Myers in court
Gina Myers, Reeva Steenkamp's best friend, is overcome with emotion as she listens to Oscar Pistorius' testimony in the Pretoria High Court
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10/89 Aimee Pistorius cries in court
Aimee Pistorius (R), sister of Oscar Pistorius, cries as she hears her brother tell his story of the events on the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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11/89 June Steenkamp in court
June Steenkamp hides her face as she listens to Oscar Pistorius' testimony in the Pretoria High Court
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12/89 Arnold and Lois Pistorius cry in court
Arnold and Lois Pistorius overcome with emotion as they listen to their nephew Oscar's testimony in the Pretoria High Court
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13/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius reacts as he listens to evidence by a pathologist during his trial in court in Pretoria
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14/89 Gerrie Nel speaks in court
State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks as he cross-examines the pathologist during the trial of Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria
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15/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head while he sits during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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16/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius reacts during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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17/89 Oscar Pistorius speaks with relative
Oscar Pistorius speaks with a family member during his trial in Court in Pretoria
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18/89 Aimee Pistorius in court
Aimee, sister of Oscar Pistorius, cries as her brother takes the stand to testify at the high court in Pretoria
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19/89 Carl Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius' brother Carl Pistorius reacts during Oscar's trial at the high court in Pretoria
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20/89 June Steenkamp in court
June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp listens to evidence by a pathologist during the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria
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21/89 Arnold Pistorius and Lois Pistorius in court
Uncle Arnold Pistorius and aunt Lois Pistorius look on during the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria
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22/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius cries as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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23/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius sheds tears as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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24/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius shedding tears as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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25/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his murder trial at the high court in Pretoria
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26/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius makes his way to the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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27/89 Kenny Oldwage questions a witness
Kenny Oldwage a member of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' legal team questions a state witness during the ongoing murder trial in Pretoria
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28/89 Hilton Botha arrives in court
Hilton Botha, former lead detective in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, arrives ahead of Pistorius's trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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29/89 A member of the African National Congress Women's League outside the court
A member of the African National Congress Women's League holds a mobile phone with a picture of Reeva Steenkamp outside the high court in Pretoria
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30/89 Pistorius cries during his trial
Oscar Pistorius cries during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
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31/89 Pistorius is comforted by relatives
Oscar Pistorius is comforted by relatives as he sits in the dock during court proceedings at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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32/89 Pistorius is comforted by relatives
Oscar Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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33/89 Pistorius in the dock
Oscar Pistorius holds his head in his hands in the dock during cross examination of a witnesses in court in Pretoria
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34/89 Pistorius leaves court
Oscar Pistorius is photographed as he leaves at the end of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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35/89 Oscar Pistorius and Aimee Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius with his sister Aimee Pistorius during the murder trial at the high court in Pretoria
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36/89 Photographs of Pistorius taken after the shooting
Pistorius from the waist up, with a tattoo visible on his back, and blood on his left arm
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37/89 Photographs of Pistorius taken after the shooting
Photographs of Pistorius taken soon after fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp were shown in court. The athlete's prosthetic legs are splattered with blood
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38/89 Pistorius' watch collection with blood marks on it
A photograph of Pistorius' watch collection with blood marks on it. One of the watches went missing the night police searched the house after Reeva Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day.
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39/89 Pistorius's bedroom with the duvet on the floor
A close up of Pistorius's bedroom, with the duvet on the floor. Pistorius argues he woke up to bring a fan from his balcony when he heard noises coming the bathroom
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40/89 Pistorius covers his head with a notebook as he listens to forensic evidence
Oscar Pistorius covers his head with a notebook as he listens to forensic evidence during his trial in court in Pretoria
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41/89 Pistorius puts his hands to his head while he sits in court
Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head as he listens to forensic evidence during his trial in court in Pretoria
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42/89 Pistorius reacts while listening evidence in court
Oscar Pistorius reacts during his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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43/89 Pistorius places his head in his hands
Oscar Pistorius places his head in his hands as he listens to the cross examination during his trial in court in Pretoria
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44/89 Pistorius during his continuous trial
Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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45/89 Lt Col JG Vermeulen demonstrates the effect of hitting of a bathroom door
Lt Col JG Vermeulen demonstrates the effect of hitting of a bathroom door with a cricket bat during the trail of Oscar Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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46/89 Lt Col JG Vermeulen recreates a possible scenario at Oscar Pistorius home
Lt Col JG Vermeulen recreates a possible scenario at Oscar Pistorius home when he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
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47/89 Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence
Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence suggesting the athlete was wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the lavatory's door with a cricket bat
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48/89 State prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks in court
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel makes a point during the trial of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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49/89 Pistorius speaks with his legal team
Oscar Pistorius speaks with a member of his legal team prior to a hearing of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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50/89 Pistorius sits in court
Oscar Pistorius sits with hands on his head at the court dock during the ongoing murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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51/89 Pistorius in court during ongoing trial
Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock on another day of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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52/89 State prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel takes part in Oscar Pistorius' ongoing murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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53/89 Pistorius arrives in court
The accused arrives at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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54/89 Pistorius cries in court
Oscar Pistorius cries as he listens to cross questioning about the events surrounding the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in court during his trial in Pretoria
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55/89 Pistorius cries in court
Oscar Pistorius cries as he chats to his lawyer Barry Roux during his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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56/89 Pistorius on the sixth day of his trial
Oscar Pistorius holds his hands to his face as he sits in the dock during day 6 of his murder trial at the High Court in Pretoria
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57/89 Pistorius sits in court
Oscar Pistorius is pictured with hands on his head during a hearing on the sixth day of his murder trial
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58/89 Relatives of Reeva Steenkamp in court
Relatives and friends of Reeva Steenkamp, Gina Meyers (C) and her mother Desiree (R) attend a hearing of Oscar Pistorius on the sixth day of his trial
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59/89 Pistorius arrives in court
Oscar Pistorius arrives at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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60/89 Security guard Pieter Baba testifies
Security guard Pieter Baba testifies the murder trial of South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius at the high court of Pretoria
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61/89 Pistorius family in court
Aimee Pistorius, sister of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar, rests her head on an unidentified woman's shoulder during the fifth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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62/89 Oscar Pistorius listens as witness testifies
Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head while a witness testifies and speaks about the morning of the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
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63/89 Oscar Pistorius cries
Oscar Pistorius cries while a witness testifies during the fourth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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64/89 Oscar Pistorius looks at notes
Oscar Pistorius looks at notes during the fourth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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65/89 Oscar Pistorius on the second day of his trial
Covering his ears, on empty benches, Oscar Pistoius gestures after arriving at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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66/89 Oscar Pistorius reads defense paperwork
Oscar Pistorius looks at his defense team paperwork during a break on the second day of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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67/89 Members of the media during the trial
Members of the media work during a break in proceedings on the second day of the murder trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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68/89 Oscar Pistorius during trial
Oscar Pistorius looks on inside the Pretoria High Court
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69/89 Chief investigating officer Lieutenant General Vineshkumar Moonoo during the trial
Chief investigating officer Lieutenant General Vineshkumar Moonoo gestures during the second day of the murder trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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70/89 Oscar Pistorius leaves court
Oscar Pistorius leaves North Gauteng High Court during the lunchtime break as he faces trial accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Pretoria
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71/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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72/89 Oscar Pistorius and Barry Roux in court
Oscar Pistorius and Barry Roux at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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73/89 Advocate Barry Roux speaks in court
Advocate Barry Roux at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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74/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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75/89 Oscar Pistorius in court
Oscar Pistorius walks at the Pretoria High Court as Reeva Steenkamp's mother looks on
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76/89 June Steenkamp in court
Reeva Steenkamp's mother looks on inside the Pretoria High Court
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77/89 Lois, Arnold and Aimee Pistorius in court
Lois, Arnold and Aimee Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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78/89 Carl, Aimee and Lois Pistorius in court
Carl, Aimee and Lois Pistorius speaking with a member of his legal team at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria
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79/89 Carl Pistorious in court
Carl Pistorious, the brother of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, leaves the courtroom during a lunch recess at the High Court in Pretoria
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80/89 Prosecutor Gerrie Nel
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel reads out the charges on the opening day of proceedings in the High Court in Pretoria
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81/89 Pretoria news
A newspaper vendor sells the Pretoria News as the Oscar Pistorius trail starts at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius denies the allegation claiming he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder inside their home on Valentines Day 2013
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82/89 June Steenkamp in court
June Steenkamp (L), mother of the murdered Reeva Steenkamp, sits in court ahead of the trial of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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83/89 June Steenkamp arrives in court
June Steenkamp (C), the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives at North Gauteng High Court for the trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria
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84/89 June Steenkamp arrives in court
June Steenkamp (R), the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives at North Gauteng High Court for the trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria
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85/89 Carl Pistorius arrives in court
Police try to hold back the media as Carl Pistorius, the brother of Oscar Pistorius, arrives at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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86/89 Media outside the court in Pretoria
Bewildered media stand outside North Gauteng High Court as Oscar Pistrious slips into court through another door to face trial accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Pretoria
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87/89 Daily News front page day after the shooting
Oscar Pistorius was arrested in South Africa in the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp
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88/89 Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp at the Feather Awards in 2012 in Johannesburg
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89/89 Reeva Steenkamp
Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead on the Valentine's Day 2013
Pistorius, 27, spent all of last week on the stand being cross-examined. The so-called Blade Runner admits killing Reeva but denies murder. He says he fired his gun after mistaking her for an intruder. The prosecution says he deliberately killed her after an argument.
Ms Steenkamp, 48, said her whole family tried to forgive Pistorius before the trial began, but that her feelings had changed during the past three weeks.
“It has been such an eye-opener for me,” she said.
“Until I walked into the courtroom it hadn't really hit me that Reeva was dead, that I'll never again see her coming through the door, bouncing around, being in charge of us all like she used to be.
“Sitting there beside my mother in that formal setting, with the whole proceedings aimed at finding the truth about the night she died, I finally took it in and it almost destroyed me. I couldn't go there for more than a day.
“I wouldn't be able to control my feelings. I would be sobbing, distraught and angry listening to his continuing lies.”
Ms Steenkamp, who moved from England to live with her parents in South Africa following her sister's death, has been staying at home with her father Barry Steenkamp, while her mother attends the trial every day. Mr Steenkamp watches it on television.
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Ms Steenkamp told the Mail on Sunday: “As the court adjourned for the weekend, the prosecutor Gerrie Nel was in the middle of questioning Pistorius about whether Reeva screamed when he was shooting her. I admire his persistent questioning and he is right to focus on that point.
“I believe that she was screaming and that he knew it was her he was shooting. I believe they were arguing and that he is an insecure, unpredictable man who might have been thinking he couldn't live without her if the row ended badly.
“So he picked up his gun and shot her in a fit of rage, and now he is lying his head off in the witness box, saying that Reeva didn't scream to let him know she was behind the toilet door.
She continued: “Our Reeva was very vocal, very assertive. Some people might go quiet when something terrible is happening, but not Reeva. She would have screamed. I know she would.
“She was a loving, outgoing girl who always spoke up about her feelings, she didn't hold back. She had lived her life until then in safety and security and would not have felt panicked into silence.”
Ms Steenkamp said her family had been devastated to see images shown to the courtroom of Reeva after she had been shot.
“I can't bear to think of her last moments. It was a terrible shock to see photographs of her head shown to the court.
“And all the time Pistorius is crying and vomiting in front of us. My poor mother somehow has to endure this day after day. She is being so strong while this is breaking her up inside. She feels strongly that she must be there for Reeva.”
She added that the family just wants the truth about what happened on the night Reeva was killed.
“Why can't he [Pistorius] end this agony for all of us who loved Reeva, and just tell the truth? That's all we want, the end of this trial and some closure at last.”
The trial continues.