Reeva Steenkamp's father: 'There is no hatred in our hearts' for Oscar Pistorius

And Pistorius' dad says superstar suspect acted on 'instinct'

South African model Reeva Steenkamp (left), and her former boyfriend Oscar Pistorius, who stands accused of her murder (Getty Images)

Reeva Steenkamp's father has broken his silence since her death, saying "there is no hatred in our hearts."

The model was shot dead on Thursday at the home of her boyfriend, the Olympic and Paralympic hero Oscar Pistorius, in Pretoria.

Pistorius is under arrest on suspicion of premeditated murder. According to friends, his lawyers will argue the killing was a tragic case of mistaken identity, as the 'Blade Runner' believed there had been a break-in at his home.

Barry Steenkamp told the Mail on Sunday the family is still struggling to come to terms with his daughter's death, and that: "She was the most beautiful, kind girl in the world."

Speaking of Mr Pistorius, he said: "He must be going through things that we don't know about.

"We ask the Lord every day to help us find a reason why this should happen to Reeva.

"There is no hatred in our hearts."

After hearing gunfire in the early hours of Thursday, neighbours and security guards rushed to Mr Pistorius' home on a heavily guarded security estate on the outskirts of South Africa's capital, Pretoria.

Beeld newspaper reports the gold medalist was found running down the stairs carrying the model in his arms, and that she was still breathing when they arrived at the scene, but was pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived shortly afterwards.

She is reported to have been shot four times in the head and hand with a gun allegedly registered to Mr Pistorius.

And yesterday, the athlete's own father said he had no doubt that the death was a tragic accident. Echoing his son's legal defence, Henke Pistorius said: "When you are a sportsman, you act even more on instinct.

"It's instinct. Things happen and that's what you do."

He told The Sunday Telegraph the family was behind his son "heart and soul" and will do "whatever needs to be done" to help him clear his name.

Pistorius will appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing, at which police will oppose bail.