Pretoria – Lawyers for murder accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius have reportedly approached legal representatives for Reeva Steenkamp’s parents in a bid to negotiate an out-of-court settlement.

The Times reported that lawyers for Barry and June Steenkamp have been approached by the Pistorius camp over their impending multimillion-rand civil claim for loss of income and emotional distress.

The Steenkamps’ lawyer confirmed that “intense” discussions were under way with the model’s family seeking an estimated R3m in damages.

Reeva and her half-brother, Adam, had helped their pensioner parents financially, including with the rent on their Port Elizabeth home.

“He [Pistorius] has robbed her parents of an income. They barely survive. They depend heavily on other people,” a friend of the Steenkamps said.

Pistorius is believed to be anxious to reach a settlement to prevent further financial ramifications and is reaching out to the Steenkamps through his lawyers and his brother, Carl.

Steenkamp’s mother, June, declined to comment on the civil suit: “This is just too much. We are grieving, missing our baby. Our beautiful, beautiful daughter who should have been celebrating her birthday today.

“None of this should have happened. We want justice. We want the person who did this to pay,” she said.

Monday would have been Reeva’s 30th birthday. 

Pistorius will go on trial in March 2014 for Reeva’s death.

News24