Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’s family says they are “grateful” that a trial date has been set as they can now start preparing for the court case.
The statement was made by Pistorius’s uncle, Arnold, on behalf of the family.
The paralympian will go to the North Gauteng High Court to face a charge of murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day this year.
Earlier on Monday, the family of Steenkamp’s best friend released a statement saying that the memory of Pistorius’s deceased girlfriend will live on.
Monday would have been Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.
Steenkamp lived with the family during her time in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp’s best friend.
“Ironically, the 19th of August 2013 [Monday] would have been Reeva’s 30th birthday, a day that should have been a celebration of her life,” they said in a statement.
“Instead, it will now mark a court appearance relating to her untimely passing six months ago.”
Myers family due to testify
They said that as the world’s attention focused on the court, “there are those who met, knew and loved Reeva that will focus their attention on their hearts and memories, allowing her life, strength of character and passion to live on through them”.
The family is due to testify at Pistorius’s trial in March next year.
Pistorius appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he was served with an indictment.
Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act.
The trial was moved to the High Court in Pretoria and would run from 3 to 20 March.
The indictment lists 107 witnesses to testify for the State.
Among them were the Myers, Pistorius’s sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, where he lived.
Medical experts, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts would also be called.
At his bail hearing, Pistorius submitted that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.
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