Steenkamp's father recovering from 'near-fatal' stroke as Pistorius 'soaks up the sun'

The father of South African model Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot dead by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius last year, has reportedly suffered a near fatal stroke even as the Paralympic sprinter enjoyed the sun just weeks before his murder trial.

While the Blade Runner, who killed Steenkamp on the early hours of Valentine's Day last year, soaked up the sun in South Africa's idyllic town of Knysna, the model's father Barry is convalescing after his stroke at home in Port Elizabeth.

According to the Mirror, Barry's brother Mike blamed his sibling's stroke on the forthcoming trial, due to start on March 3, and an out-of-court deal between Pistorius and a party guest over an alleged assault in 2009.

Stating that Barry broke to pieces after he read about the trial and the settlement, Mike said that Steenkamp's father had a stroke as he is not coping very well, adding that their family now cannot walk into a shop with balloons and Valentine's things as it is devastating for them.

Meanwhile, Pistorius looked at ease after lunch at a cafe in the Western Province coastal town, his favourite holiday spot, over the New Year, and also posed for pictures that were posted on Twitter, giving lie to his claims of being 'utterly devastated' at Steenkamp's death.

Pistorius is staying with his uncle Arnold, near the mansion where he shot Steenkamp, and has daily visits from his pastor and if convicted of murder, he faces life in jail with a minimum of 25 years before parole, the report added.