Reeva Steenkamp's family deny allegations that the model was pregnant when Oscar Pistorius shot her

South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp (AP)

Reeva Steenkamp’s family has rejected allegations that the model was pregnant when Paralympian Oscar Pistorius shot and killed her.

Amid a growing number of speculative stories written about the case, the American tabloid The National Enquirer reported on Monday that Steenkamp was shot because she was pregnant. The article said: “Oscar Pistorius killed his stunning girlfriend in a fit of rage after she told him she was pregnant!”

International gossip websites spread the allegations fuelled by The National Enquirer that Pistorius was concerned his girlfriend was cheating on him with one of her close friends, which the newspaper claimed sparked a row between the couple before he shot her.

But today, the Steenkamp family have spoken out to categorically deny the rumours. “The post mortem would have revealed if Reeva was pregnant and it did not reveal anything like this. Maybe it comes from the other side, to garner and build up some sort of support for Oscar,” family spokesperson Mike Steenkamp told the Times Live.

The allegations that Steenkamp was pregnant are among a number of unverified reports that have circulated international news websites, including claims of bloodied cricket bats found in Pistorius’ apartment and a love triangle said to involve another South African sports star.

The lack of contempt laws in South Africa has meant the Paralympian has increasingly been put “on trial by the media”. International observers have been shocked by the level of media speculation surrounding the case that would fall foul of contempt of court laws in most Western jurisdictions.