The parents of murdered Reeva Steenkamp are ‘furious and horrified’ at a new Hollywood movie about Oscar Pistorius shooting their daughter.
They have slammed claims that the movie is told from Reeva and her mother June’s perspective and say they have not given the film their support
Reeva’s sister Simone, speaking exclusively to MailOnline from her home in South Africa, dismissed the movie as simply ‘a money making exercise and very wishy-washy.’
She added: ‘My mother was mortified when she first found about it. When I told her about it, she said ‘You have upset me now’. She was not happy.
‘I watched a snippet today and the people don’t even talk proper South African. They sound either British or American, but they certainly don’t sound like South Africans.
Anger: The parents of murdered Reeva Steenkamp Barry (left) and June (centre) are ‘furious and horrified’ at a new Hollywood movie about Oscar Pistorius shooting their daughter.
backlash: Reeva’s parents have slammed claims that the movie is told from the model and her mother June’s (pictured left) perspective and say they have not given the film their support.
Pistorius (right) initially escaped a murder conviction for shooting Reeva (left) through a locked bathroom door three years ago. The pair are pictured together in 2012
Blasted: Reeva’s sister Simone, speaking exclusively to MailOnline from her home in South Africa, dismissed the movie as simply ‘a money making exercise and very wishy-washy.’
‘I mean Oscar is a Boer, a real Afrikaan.’
The film ‘Blade Runner Killer’ stars South African-born Andreas Damm, who is New York based as Pistorius and German-born Toni Garrn, the former flame of Academy Award winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, as Reeva.
The model’s father Barry was left reeling when dramatic clips from the film recreating the moment she was gunned down by Pistorius popped up on his facebook feed, the family lawyer said.
The retired racehorse training and wife, June, ‘had no idea any movie had been made’, Tania Koen told MailOnline.
‘Seeing this trailer which depicts the death of their daughter, and the horrific way in which it happened, has just opened all the old wounds for Barry and June,’ Ms Koen explained.
‘Barry was on facebook and these images just popped up, he had no idea such a film had been made. It is very sensationalist and obviously the lack of any warning that such material was in circulation gave him a terrible shock and left him very distressed.
‘The producers did not give the Steenkamps the courtesy of letting them know that the film was in circulation. At least if they had been given prior warning, they might have had the opportunity to prepare themselves,’ she added.
‘Mortified’: Reeva’s sister Simone said her parents are angry about the new Hollywood film about her death. She said: ‘My mother was mortified when she first found about it. When I told her about it, she said ‘You have upset me now’. She was not happy.’
Reeva was gunned down by Pistorius, the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympics in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013. He claimed he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet.
Pistorius, who became the first-ever double amputee to compete in the Olympic Games at London 2012, pleaded not guilty at his trial in 2014.
He denied killing Steenkamp in a rage, claiming that he was trying to protect her.
During his trial Pistorius denied any suggestion that he knew Reeva was behind the door, often breaking down in tears weeping, wailing and praying whenever details of her injuries were heard.
But after a series of legal delays and a trail over a six month period, he was found guilty on September 12 2014 of culpable homicide or manslaughter.
In the dark: Reeva’s parents Barry and June Steenkamp had no knowledge of the making of the film ‘Blade Runner Killer’, the model’s sister Simone said. They are horrified and upset to read a report that ‘the movie is told from Steenkamp and her mother’s perspective’, she added.
Shot dead: Model Reeva (pictured) was killed when her boyfriend Pistorius shot her through the bathroom door on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
Jailed: Reeva was gunned down by Pistorius, the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympics in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013. During his trial Pistorius denied any suggestion that he knew Reeva was behind the door.
He was given a five year sentence, but the decision to free him from jail and out him under house arrest for the remaining four years of his term caused uproar.
Over a two year period, he was brought before the courts several times.
The Supreme Court of Appeal convicted Pistorius of murder, saying his testimony was ‘vacillating and untruthful’, in 2015 and last year he began a six year sentence.
A spokeswoman for Reeva’s parents June and Barry Steenkamp said they were still ‘mourning the tragic loss of their beloved daughter.’
She added: [They] had no knowledge of the making of the film ‘Blade Runner Killer’. They are horrified and upset to read a report that ‘the movie is told from Steenkamp and her mother’s perspective’.
She added: ‘Mrs Steenkamp was not approached to participate, comment or be part of the making of the film, and did not give the producers any assistance.
‘Any impression that is created that this is June’s view, or that the movie is endorsed by the Steenkamp family, is untrue and incorrect.’
The Steenkamp’s fury was fueled by a claim in showbusiness newspaper Dateline Hollywood that the film was from their perspective which they described as ‘disreputable’.
The film has been written by Amber Benson, best known for playing Tara on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and is produced by Lifetime.
Simone added: ‘June’s husband Barry has not been well and this will bring back some terrible memories.
The first trailer has emerged for a movie about Oscar Pistorius and the murder of Reeva Steenkamp – showing the athlete shooting his girlfriend and their violent arguments before her death
‘My mother is working very hard in the foundation she set up in Reeva’s name, but this is an unnecessary intrusion which we could do without.’
Drama: The minute-long trailer ends with Pistorius tearfully telling a court: ‘I truly loved her’
Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer charts the run-up to the murder on Valentine’s Day 2013 at his home in Pretoria, South Africa – and the courtroom dramas that followed. It stars Andreas Damm as the 30-year-old double-leg amputee and Toni Garrn (pictured) as girlfriend Steenkamp
In one scene Pistorius he challenges Steenkamp to ‘prove to me that this is what you want and that you are worthy of me and this relationship’ before she strips to her underwear and climbs into bed with him
In one scene, Pistorius tells his girlfriend she will be his ‘personal angel’ as he trains for the Olympics.
In another, he challenges Steenkamp to ‘prove to me that this is what you want and that you are worthy of me and this relationship’ before she strips to her underwear and climbs into bed with him.
The following scene shows the pair having a row before he picks up a weapon, ordering her to ‘get back here’.
The minute-long trailer ends with Pistorius tearfully telling a court: ‘I truly loved her’.
According to channel24, the film will premiere in the US on November 11.
Shooting: The film includes a scene where Pistorius shoots apparently believing there is an intruder in the house
Pistorius can be seen brandishing a gun during the trailer for the film, which is due to be released in November
The film charts the fall-out from the killing and the police investigation into the death. One scene shows bullet holes in a door
The movie shows Pistorius training (pictured) and some of the arguments he and Steenkamp had before she was killed
It comes just days after it was announced that the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa will hear the state’s appeal against Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius’ ‘shockingly lenient’ six-year murder sentence in 2016.
The appeal will be heard on November 3, the National Prosecuting Authority said.
Oscar Pistorius (pictured) was jailed for six years in 2016 for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Court appearance: But after a series of legal delays and a trail over a six month period, he was found guilty on September 12 2014 of culpable homicide or manslaughter. Pistorius walks in the courtroom without his prosthetic legs in a dramatic demonstration of his disability in court.