Welcome back to playing Dirty Sports Scandals. I'm Jay Harris, your host. You're brave Barista and the bearer of this heartbreaking Valentine's Day saga. Together we'll dig deeper into how the beautiful, brilliant Reva Steinkamp died on February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. Was her killing a terrible, unwitting accident motivated by Oscar Pistorius' sheer paranoia over a home intruder. Or was Reva murdered in cold blood by her famous blade runner boyfriend who had an awful temper mixed with a passion for firearms. Certainly, investigators and prosecutors didn't buy Oscar's claims of an intruder in his mansion on the silver Woods Estate in Pretoria, even though first responders did paint a picture of him as a deeply distraught lover. The manager of silver Woods Estate and his daughter were the first two people on the scene after the shooting. The manager testified that Oscar had been crying, screaming, and praying while carrying Reva's bloodied body down the stairs when they arrived, and doctor Johann Stipp, a neighbor who rushed over to help when he heard the commotion. Also described the scene as chaotic and devastating, with Oscar pleading for Reva to stay alive. Doctor Stipp would later testify that Oscar looked sincere to me. He was crying, there were tears on his face. He was saying, please let her live. He was saying he would dedicate his life to God if she will only live. But while the estate manager and doctor Johann Stipp seemed to buy Oscar's version of events, Detective Hilton Botha, a twenty four year veteran of the South African Police Service, shared with Vanity Air that he never doubted revastein Camp's death was a calculated murder. There's no way anything else could have happened. Detected both And said, it was just Oscar and Riva in the house, and according to the security registers, she had been staying there for two to three days, so he had to be used to her by that time. There was no forced entry. The only place there could have been entrants was the open bathroom window, and we did everything we could to see if anyone went through it, and it was impossible, so I thought it was an open and closed case. Oscar Pistoria shot revasteain Camp. That's it. I was convinced that it was murder, and I told my colonel, you already read him his rights, so you have to arrest him. And that's what went down. Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody and charged with murder within hours of Riva's death. As police and prosecutors got to work, investigators and attorneys were scrambling on the heels of Oscar's arrest, and they weren't the only ones. The following days devolved into a media frenzy, with the world watching as details of the case unfolded. The once celebrated athlete now found himself with a problem he couldn't outrun. Oscar Pistorius was a spectator, seeing his life unravel in the public eye as he faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. Meanwhile, Revasteencamp's devastated parents, June and Barry, had to navigate their personal tragedy in the public eye as well. Sky News reported that June and Barry Steamcamp faced the gathering of camera crews who filmed their every movement with stoicism and fortitude, but no one was left in any doubt that they hated every minute of being in the spotlight. June herself admitted as much, saying the media interest meant the loss of our privacy and made it difficult to mourn our daughter Riva in peace. We who remain behind are the ones serving a life sentence. On February nineteenth, twenty thirteen, the stunned, heartbroken Steamcamp family watched, alongside millions of others, as Oscar's four day bail hearing began. It is extremely unusual for bail hearing to last more than a day, but Oscar was a public figure and both sides had come prepared to duke it out. Each blow packed a punch and took time to deliver. Prosecutor Harry Nell argued vehemently against allowing any bail for Oscar Pistorius, insisting that Oscar posed a flight risk and emphasizing that he should be charged and held without bail for premeditated murder. But Oscar's lawyer, defense attorney Barry Rue, countered powerfully. He emphasized his client's disability, the logistical difficulties Oscar would face if incarcerated, his status as a national hero, and insisted that Revastinekamp's tragic death was a terrible accident, not premeditated murder. Attorney Rue further argued that Oscar deserved to be released on bail while awaiting trial because the investigation into Reva's death had been mishandled by the prosecution. In a shocking turn of events, the defense declared that lead detective Hilton Botha's credibility was nil since he himself was facing seven charges of attempted murder what allegedly in October twenty eleven, detected both the and two other officers opened fire on seven passengers in a taxi minibus to stop the vehicle. Sky News reported that it was claimed the officers who were on duty at the time were drunk. Wow, it certainly didn't help matters that detected. Both A further admitted under defense questioning that the police quote had lost track of ammunition found inside Oscar Pistorius's house and it failed to wear protective clothing at the crime scene. With the shockers disclosed by and about lead investigator detected both the under defense attorney Barry Rous, questioning the prosecution, led by Harry Nell, had little chance of successfully winning its no bail bid for Oscar Pistorius. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nail, who would notably be suspended and facing corruption charges himself just three and a half years later for allegedly receiving kickbacks, ruled in favor of the defense and set the bail amount at one million Rand, which was equivalent to approximately one hundred thirteen thousand dollars. For an athlete of Oscar's stature, this amount was a drop in the bucket. Additional conditions of Oscar's bail included surrendering his passports, refraining from alcohol consumption, and reporting to a police station twice a week. Oscar Pistorius was released from police custody on February twenty second, twenty thirteen, just nine days after Reva Steinekamp's death, to await his trial as a freeman. Now, while Oscar's relationship with his father had been strained ever since Hank Pastorius walked out on the family, Oscar did have the benefit of an enduring close relationship with his paternal uncle, Arnold Pistorius, and Arnold's wife, Lois Pastorius. Arnold and Lois had taken Oscar and his siblings in after their biological mother, Sheila's death and raised him from age fifteen onwards. Uncle Arnold and Aunt Lois were Oscar's rocks, and he needed them now more than ever. As soon as he was released on bail, Oscar went to live with them in their magnificent home in the upscale suburb of Watercloof in Pretoria. Their estate was the perfect place to hunker down and prepare for trial. The three story mansion provided relative privacy from the relentless press frenzy. While media outlets from around the world camped outside of Arnold and Lois Pastorius' home, the most they could hope for was a glimpse of the blade runner behind a massive gate in leafy trees. Oscar Pistorius' family and legal team focused on preparing for the upcoming trial. His defense attorneys, Barry Rue and Kenny old Wage were notoriously dogged, with a history of taking on and winning high profile cases. Notably, attorney old Wage had successfully defended Oscar Pistorius's brother Karl against the culpable homicide charge related to the death of a woman motorcyclist named Mariiki Barnard in a traffic accident in two thousand and eight. The combination of attorneys rue and old wage was formidable, and the Pistorius family didn't stop there. Scientists such as top forensic pathologists Reggi Peramol and private investigators were also highed to develop the strongest possible legal defense for Oscar. Even the court of public opinion was catered to by Oscar Pistorius's family with the hiring of Stuart Higgins, former editor of The Sun newspaper, assigned to pr The strategy of Oscar's supercharged team was singular and clear, to prove the shooting of Rivastinekamp was a tragic accident and not a premeditated murder? Could they do it? Everyone following the case was on the edge of their seat waiting to find out. So intensely was Oscar's trial anticipated that there were echoes of the oj Simpson cases mania Every development, every visit to the courthouse, and every statement from the legal teams was destined to be dissected and analyzed by pundits and experts from around the globe. The stage was set, and on March third, twenty fourteen, it was curtains up as the blade Runner entered the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria on the first day of his trial. It's important to note that he was not facing a jury of his peers. This is because in South Africa the judicial system doesn't use jury trials. Instead, a judge, sometimes assisted by assessors, decides the outcome of a case. For Oscar Pistorius, his fate lay in the hands of Judge Docozile Massipa, known by her friends as Tilly. Sixty six year old Judge Messipa had grown up under the hardships of apartheid and risen to become the country's second black female judge. According to The Financial Times, Judge Massipa had also earned a reputation for defending women's rights, and the year before Oscar's trial, she had notably sentenced to Siria rapist to two hundred and fifty years in prison. If the prosecution's case stuck. It seemed unlikely that Judge Messipa would serve up a lenience sentence for Oscar Pistorius, and the prosecution's case was daunting. Oscar faced multiple serious charges, including illegal possession of ammunition, culpable homicide which we call manslaughter in the US, and premeditated murder. Premeditated murder was by far the most serious charge, and if Oscar was found guilty on this charge, it came with a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of twenty five years served before parole eligibility. Prosecutor Harry Nell, known as the pit Bull in South African legal circles for his fierce courtroom demeanor and meticulous attention to detail, hammered home the premeditated murder charge. Prosecutor Nell argued that Oscar Pistorius had not acted out of fear of an intruder, but out of rage following a heated argument with Revstine Camp. As reported by The New York Times, Harry Nell said it defied comprehension that Revastein Camp had not screamed, as Oscar asserted when he shot her in the head. Prosecutor Nell also said that if Oscar Pasorius had truly feared an intruder, then it was inconceivable that he would not have checked that Riva was safe before drawing his gun. The forensic evidence presented by the prosecution was crucial to supporting Harry Nell's argument. Bullet trajectories and the grouping of shots all suggested a deliberate and calculated act. Results of A partial autopsy revealed that Riva had been struck by three of the four bullets that had been fired through the bathroom door, sustaining wounds to her head, hip and arm. Captain Christian Mangana, a ballistic expert, told the court that after being hit in the right hip, revastein Camp fell backwards and three more bullets were fired. He believed the fatal shot went through her left hand into her skull as she crossed her arms over her head to protect herself. Forensic investigator Colonel Johannes Vermullin then demonstrated that Oscar Pistorius had not been wearing his prosthetics at the time he forced the door open with a cricket bat after the shooting. As the defense claimed, Colonel Vermullin reenacted wielding a cricket bat at a door in court before declaring that everyone could see the marks on the door are actually consistent with Oscar not having his legs on. But even more damning than the forensic evidence and Prosecutor Harry Nell's tenacious arguments were Reva's own words. Her mobile phone was recovered from the bathroom where she died, and her text messages to Oscar were revealing I was not flirting with anyone today. I feel sick that you suggested that Reva texted Oscar in one instance, providing a glimpse into his jealous and controlling nature. You have picked on me excessively, Reva wrote, I do everything to make you happy and to not say anything to rock the boat with you. Reva's words painted a picture of a relationship fraud, with tension and insecurity, undermining the Defensi's portrayal of a loving couple an Oscar's portrayal of himself as grief stricken and innocent. Prosecutor Harry Nell unsurprisingly used Reva's messages to argue that Oscar Pistorius had a documented history of emotional instability and controlling behavior, which culminated in the tragic event of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. She was standing there talking to you when you shot her in the head, Prosecutor Nell said to Oscar and cross examination, Reva was not scared of an intruder. She was scared of you. You shot at her, knowing she was behind that door. You shot and killed her. Won't you take responsibility for that? But even as Riva's parents, June and Barry choked back tears in the courtroom. Oscar did not admit responsibility. Rather, his defense team attempted to contextualize the text messages, with Attorney Berri Roux arguing that all couples have disagreements. Out of that more than seventeen hundred text messages, you found four relevant to an argument. Attorney Rue pointedly asked data analysts Captain Francois Moler. Captain Mohler said yes, before Attorney Rue steam rolled ahead to share some of the loving texts between his client and the deceased. These included a text in which Oscar told Riva that he was the luckiest guy ever, and in another exchange that she looked amaze balls. The defense was hopeful that by sharing some of these lighter exchanges, they'd managed to portray a more balanced view of the relationship between Riva and Oscar, but they weren't counting on Judge Massipa being won over by this counter argument. Oscar Pistorius's top notch defense team knew that they had to convince the judge that their client's actions had been genuinely driven by fear rather than malice. To avoid the premeditated murder charge. They needed her to you Oscar as a man deeply traumatized by crime, living in constant fear due to the high crime rates in South Africa, his disability, defense attorney Barry Rue argued, would naturally have made Oscar feel even more vulnerable at the prospect of an intruder, particularly as he would have been physically smaller without his legs on than any trespasser. Further, attorney rupressed, it was evident that Oscar Pistorius's emotional state was that of a devastated man. While one of Oscar's neighbors, Michelle Berger, told the court how she'd been woken up by a woman's blood curdling screams, Barry Rue insisted that she could not prove the screams came from Reva rather than a distraught Oscar Pistorius. After all, the defense reminded the judge Oscar's other neighbor, doctor Johann Stipp, had believed Oscar's genuine heartbreak after the shooting. Whoa. Yvette von Skulkwik, the social worker and probation officer assigned to Oscar after the shooting, also testified that, in her professional opinion, he was heartbroken, genuinely sorry for Reva's parents, suffering emotionally and deeply missing Riva. Yvette's perspective as a social worker was shared by clinical psychologist Jonathan Schultz, who assessed Oscar and provided a report read by defense attorney Barry Rue in court. This report stated that mister Oscar Pastorius has been severely traumatized by the events that took place on fourteen February twenty thirteen. He currently suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. The degree of anxiety andres es that is present is significant. He is also mourning the loss of Miss Reevastemcamp. Mister Pistorius is being treated and should continue to receive clinical care by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist for his current condition. Should he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen and increase the risk for suicide. Judge Tilli Masipa was in a challenging position. Both the defense and prosecution in Oscar Pistorius's trial were at the top of their legal games, and the most compelling words were, of course, yet to be uttered. In her courtroom. On April seventh, twenty fourteen, Oscar himself took the stand with the whole world watching. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to missus and mister Steencamp, to Reva's family, to those of you who knew her who are here today. There hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family, Oscar began. I wake up every morning, and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Riva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night, she felt loved. According to the BBC, Reva Steinkamp's mother, June, watched stony face as Oscar spoke. Oscar captivated viewers with his dramatic courtroom behavior in the coming weeks, which ranged from vomiting when pictures of Riva's wounds were displayed to multiple tearful breakdowns. His emotional testimony was, of course, a key element of his defense team's strategy aimed at humanizing him and eliciting empathy from Judge Messipa. It proved to be a highly effective strategy. Judge Messipa respond compassionately to Oscar Pistorius' emotional upheaval, adjourning the trial several times so that he could compose himself in the court of public opinion. These adjournments helped paint a picture of a man deeply affected by the loss of his girlfriend, reinforcing the defense's narrative of Revasteinekamp's killing as a genuine, tragic mistake. The breaks for Oscar during the trial also supported attorney ruse argument that his client's emotional instability was consistent with someone who would act it out of fear and panic. The morning of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen, rather than premeditation, forty one days after Oscar Pistorius's trial had begun, it was done. Prosecutor Harry Nell's closing arguments reiterated the key points of their case, the forensic evidence of premeditation, the volatile nature of Oscar and Revas's RS relationship, and Oscar's reckless history with firearms. Defense attorney Barry Roue's closing arguments reiterated the key points of their case that investigators had mishandled the crime scene, that the prosecution's case was not airtight beyond a reasonable doubt, and that Oscar was clearly emotionally impacted by what had transpired, a man devastated by his own terrible mistake. No one was arguing that Reva's life had been lost. Attorney Roue emphasized the defense did believe, however, that since there was no intention on Oscar's part to kill Reva, that the shooting should have only led to a charge of culpable homicide rather than premeditated murder. With the closing arguments complete, it was time for Judge Tillie Masipa to deliberate. She told both sides to return to the High Court in Pretoria on September eleventh, twenty fourteen, to hear her ruling. As everyone waited with anticipation to learn Oscar's fate, many legal experts weighed in with their predictions. Criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor Marius de Troy, for one, told The New York Times that I would think that the ruling would be between culpable homicide and premeditated murder. I don't know if the state has done enough for murder to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, and I think Oscar Pistorius may have done too much for culpable homicide. Would Toy's prediction prove accurate? On September eleventh, twenty fourteen, all parties reconvened in court to hear Judge Tilly Masipa's verdict. Now, it can take hours or even days for a verdict to be delivered, and so it wasn't until the next day, September twelfth, twenty fourteen, that Oscar Pistorius learned his fate. The BBC reported that Judge massip but didn't mince her words when she said the athlete Oscar Pistorius, who has a good knowledge of guns, acted negligently by firing four shots into a confined space. She questioned why he did not phone for help or run to the balcony instead of confronting the apparent danger, questions that have plagued many But then, having admonished Oscar with these words, and despite clear outrage from Prosecutor Harry Nell, Judge Messipa announced that Oscar Pistorius was not guilty of murder. She only found Oscar guilty of culpable homicide. I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent. Judge Massipa declared. Oscar was given a five year jail sentence and sent to Pretoria's hosimm Peru prison, which houses approximately seven thousand inmates. His defense team told reporters that they expected Oscar to serve about ten months in the prison's hospital wing before being transferred to house arrest for the duration of his sentence. The public's reaction to Oscar Pistorius's sentence was swift and mostly negative. In the Twitter verse, many expressed outrage at such a short sentence. The hashtag things longer than Oscar's sentence trended closer to home. South Africans were also conflicted, with many feeling that justice had not been served. The Women's League of the ruling African National Congress party said that it was dissatisfied with the culpable homicide conviction and that Oscar Pistorius should have been found guilty of murder. It urged prosecutors to appeal in a statement which read, we hold that regardless of who missed Pistorius believed to be behind the bathroom door that fateful night, he shot to kill Ill, and therefore a murder did occur. Remarkably, Reva Steenkamp's mother, June, was among the minority who expressed initial support for Judge Messipa's lenient ruling. I didn't want Oscar to be thrown in jail and be suffering because I don't wish suffering on anyone, and his incarceration isn't going to bring Reva back, June said in a speech at Reva's former school in Port Elizabeth. June also told BBC three that there's never going to be closure. How can there be closure. Reva's not coming back. We just have to try and move on with our life. You know. I'm going to build shelters for abused women, raise money for that. Reva's father, Barry, also expressed in the same BBC three interview that he too was pleased that the whole thing is over, but he seemed less inclined to move on than his wife. Before I forgive, forgive, like any forgiveness, I want to talk to Oscar first, Barry said, through tears. It won't be anything nice or anything like that. But I'd like to sit down and talk to him. Barry and Junesteen Camp would visit Oscar in prison nine years later, on June twenty second, twenty twenty two, but the conversation wouldn't unfold the way they imagined, and the road to that discussion would be fraught with complication. Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on October nineteenth, twenty fifteen, to continue his sentence under house arrest, as his defense team had predicted. The only thing his all star defense team hadn't foreseen was a successful appeal by the prosecution. Harry Nell had filed the appeal believing strongly that Judge Massipa's culpable homicide ruling had been a miscarriage of justice. According to his appeal application, as reported by Independent Online, there were three aggravating major factors that Judge Messipa should have taken into account in her sentencing. The number of shots fired, that Oscar had already formed the intention to shoot in his bedroom before he had even approached the bathroom, and lastly, the Supreme Court of Appeals rejection of Oscar Pistorius's claims of self defense with the Appellate Court's support of the prosecution, Oscar's conviction was upgraded to murder and his case was sent back to the lower court and Judge Messipa for re sentencing. When the case returned to court on July sixth, twenty sixteen, Judge Mesceepa sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years in prison for murder, rather than the five years she'd handed down previously for culpable homicide. Those who had been upset by Oscar's initial lenient sentence felt that Judge Messeepa had missed a second opportunity to realize justice for Refestine Camp, as reported by The New York Times. Gareth Knewhim, a criminal justice researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, said that it was not unusual for a judge to consider mitigating factors in deviating from sentencing guidelines, but the six year sentence from Judge Massipa for murder, he said, would most likely anger a public that has come to regard mister Pistorius much less sympathetically. Reeva's parents had also been living with their terrible loss for over three years. By Oscar's second sentencing, and having discovered that time was not dissipating their pain. Their initial acceptance of Judge Messipa's leniency had soured. The New York Times reported that Barry Steenkamp gave tearful testimony at Oscar's second sentencing and that mister Pistoria's had to pay for his crime. Mister Steenkamp said his daughter's killing had contributed to his having a stroke. Mister Steenkamp, a diabetic, said that his grief has been so severe that he would take his insolence syringe and quote shove it into my stomach and my own arms to see if I could feel the same type of pain but no. Prosecutors were also gobsmacked by Judge Mascipa's six year sentence for murder and the Pitbull. Harry Nell promptly appealed again, arguing that Oscar Pistorius's revised jail term was still less than half the fifteen years the prosecution had sought. The National Prosecuting Authority agreed with Harry Nell that the sentence was disproportionate to the crime and could bring the entire South African justice system into disrepute. The National Prosecuting Authority released a statement saying we hope that this appeal will also clarify further the principles of sentencing, particularly in crime categories for which there are prescribed minimum sentences ordained by legislation. But Judge Massepa fired back in defensive for sentencing, explaining that she had given Oscar Pistorius a six year sentence because mitigating circumstances such as rehabilitation and remorse had outweighed aggravating factors such as his failure to fire a warning shot. The BBC reported the JUDGEMENTSIPA further stated that public opinion may be loud and persistent, but it can play no role in the decision of this court. In South African legal circles, however, there was a growing cry to write the perceived wrong against Revasteine Camp and her surviving family. On November twenty fourth, twenty seventeen, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the prosecutor's appeal against Oscar Pistorius his six year sentence for the murder of Revasteine Camp. Supreme Court Justice Willie Serreedi announced that the sentence of six years imprisonment is shockingly lenient, to a point where it is the effect of trivializing this serious offense. Oscar's sentence was instantly doubled to thirteen years and five months. Under South African law, all offenders are entitled to be considered for parole once they have served half their total sentence. Oscar Pistorius would now be eligible for parole in twenty twenty three instead of twenty nineteen. Among Oscar's visitors in prison were Barry and June's Steam Camp. Despite Oscar's increased prison sentence, Reva's parents could not find peace. They needed the conversation that Barry had told the BBC he'd wanted back in twenty fourteen. They had to hear the truth directly from Oscar about their daughter's final moments. However, their sit down with Oscar in June twenty twenty two did not feel productive to the grief stricken Steam Camps. Barry told Good Morning Britain that all June and I wanted to know from Oscar was the truth. What we feel was the truth that he actually killed her because of anger. June and Barry turned their personal tragedy and lack of closure into something positive for society by forming the Reva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to educate and empower victims of violence and abuse. But even as they poured their energy into the foundation, refocusing attention on their daughter's life, Barry's health deteriorated. On September fourteenth, twenty twenty three, less than a month after he planned the commemorative fortieth birthday of Riva, Barry passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. The Steenkamp family's lawyer and spokesperson, Tanya Kuhn, told News twenty three that June and the rest of the family are in a state of shock because they did not expect this at all. Barry's health had always been a problem, but there was no illness when he died. He was very emotional over Reva's death and so loyal. Barry could just never get over Reva's death. As June Steencamp grappled with the loss of her beloved husband a decade after the murder of her daughter, Oscar pistoria Is prepared himself for parole. After serving nearly eight years of his thirteen year and five month sentence, Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on January fifth, twenty twenty four. His release was met with mixed reactions mirroring the divided public opinion that dogged the case from the beginning. Some saw his release as a second chance for a man who had paid his debt to society, while others viewed it as another reminder of the pain, tragedy and injustice of Rev. Esteemcamp's death. Since his release, Oscar has faced the daunting task of reintegrating into society. It hasn't been easy. According to The New York Post, He's been ostracized by his former pals, and while Oscar has reached out to at least two members of the International Paralympic Committee asking if they could work together in any capacity, he was quickly rebuffed. One of the committee members, who received a message from Oscar explained, he's too toxic to work with now. There's nothing for him here. Perhaps this is why Oscar has turned his immediate focus to religion and charitable work. According to his parole paperwork, Oscar has listed his volunteer work at n G kirk Waterklouf, the Dutch Reformed church which is attended by his uncle Arnold Pastorius. Oscar does light maintenance and janitorial work for the church, and he quietly attends services that New York Post reported, of course, it's unlikely that Oscar will be quietly doing anything after his media ban is lifted. In twenty twenty nine, the BBC speculated that Oscar's fame means he will find a platform, and the renewed presence of Oscar on the world stage will be unwelcomed to June Steamcamp, who continues to push herself forward against all the odds in honor of her daughter. My only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace, with my focus remaining on the Viva Rebecca Steamcamp Foundation to continue Reva's legacy. June Steamcamp told the BBC, as we reflect on the story of Oscar Pastorius, the Blade Runner, we're reminded of the duality of the human spirit, the capacity for both greatness and profound depravity. Oscar's story is also forever intertwined with Reva Steamcamp, whose life was cut tragically short, but whose legacy continues through her family's foundation. For more information, please visit Reva Steamcampfoundation dot org. That's r e E v A s t e e n KA MP Foundation dot o RG. June Stemcamp's efforts to empower women is a true testament to Reva's memory, while this scandal is Oscar Pistorius's The inspirational story of the Steamcamp family strength despite immeasurable grief belongs to Reva. I'm Jay Harris and this has been Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. Join me next week for another gripping story from the world of sports, where triumph and scandal are often served blended. Playing Dirty Sports Scandals is a production of Dan Patrick Productions, Never Ever Productions and Workhouse Media from executive producers Dan Patrick, Paul Anderson, Nick Panela, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Claring. Hosted by Jay Harris, Written and produced by Jen Brown, Francie Haiks, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clare.

Welcome back to playing Dirty Sports Scandals. I'm Jay Harris, your host. You're brave Barista and the bearer of this heartbreaking Valentine's Day saga. Together we'll dig deeper into how the beautiful, brilliant Reva Steinkamp died on February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. Was her killing a terrible, unwitting accident motivated by Oscar Pistorius' sheer paranoia over a home intruder. Or was Reva murdered in cold blood by her famous blade runner boyfriend who had an awful temper mixed with a passion for firearms. Certainly, investigators and prosecutors didn't buy Oscar's claims of an intruder in his mansion on the silver Woods Estate in Pretoria, even though first responders did paint a picture of him as a deeply distraught lover. The manager of silver Woods Estate and his daughter were the first two people on the scene after the shooting. The manager testified that Oscar had been crying, screaming, and praying while carrying Reva's bloodied body down the stairs when they arrived, and doctor Johann Stipp, a neighbor who rushed over to help when he heard the commotion. Also described the scene as chaotic and devastating, with Oscar pleading for Reva to stay alive. Doctor Stipp would later testify that Oscar looked sincere to me. He was crying, there were tears on his face. He was saying, please let her live. He was saying he would dedicate his life to God if she will only live. But while the estate manager and doctor Johann Stipp seemed to buy Oscar's version of events, Detective Hilton Botha, a twenty four year veteran of the South African Police Service, shared with Vanity Air that he never doubted revastein Camp's death was a calculated murder. There's no way anything else could have happened. Detected both And said, it was just Oscar and Riva in the house, and according to the security registers, she had been staying there for two to three days, so he had to be used to her by that time. There was no forced entry. The only place there could have been entrants was the open bathroom window, and we did everything we could to see if anyone went through it, and it was impossible, so I thought it was an open and closed case. Oscar Pistoria shot revasteain Camp. That's it. I was convinced that it was murder, and I told my colonel, you already read him his rights, so you have to arrest him. And that's what went down. Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody and charged with murder within hours of Riva's death. As police and prosecutors got to work, investigators and attorneys were scrambling on the heels of Oscar's arrest, and they weren't the only ones. The following days devolved into a media frenzy, with the world watching as details of the case unfolded. The once celebrated athlete now found himself with a problem he couldn't outrun. Oscar Pistorius was a spectator, seeing his life unravel in the public eye as he faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. Meanwhile, Revasteencamp's devastated parents, June and Barry, had to navigate their personal tragedy in the public eye as well. Sky News reported that June and Barry Steamcamp faced the gathering of camera crews who filmed their every movement with stoicism and fortitude, but no one was left in any doubt that they hated every minute of being in the spotlight. June herself admitted as much, saying the media interest meant the loss of our privacy and made it difficult to mourn our daughter Riva in peace. We who remain behind are the ones serving a life sentence. On February nineteenth, twenty thirteen, the stunned, heartbroken Steamcamp family watched, alongside millions of others, as Oscar's four day bail hearing began. It is extremely unusual for bail hearing to last more than a day, but Oscar was a public figure and both sides had come prepared to duke it out. Each blow packed a punch and took time to deliver. Prosecutor Harry Nell argued vehemently against allowing any bail for Oscar Pistorius, insisting that Oscar posed a flight risk and emphasizing that he should be charged and held without bail for premeditated murder. But Oscar's lawyer, defense attorney Barry Rue, countered powerfully. He emphasized his client's disability, the logistical difficulties Oscar would face if incarcerated, his status as a national hero, and insisted that Revastinekamp's tragic death was a terrible accident, not premeditated murder. Attorney Rue further argued that Oscar deserved to be released on bail while awaiting trial because the investigation into Reva's death had been mishandled by the prosecution. In a shocking turn of events, the defense declared that lead detective Hilton Botha's credibility was nil since he himself was facing seven charges of attempted murder what allegedly in October twenty eleven, detected both the and two other officers opened fire on seven passengers in a taxi minibus to stop the vehicle. Sky News reported that it was claimed the officers who were on duty at the time were drunk. Wow, it certainly didn't help matters that detected. Both A further admitted under defense questioning that the police quote had lost track of ammunition found inside Oscar Pistorius's house and it failed to wear protective clothing at the crime scene. With the shockers disclosed by and about lead investigator detected both the under defense attorney Barry Rous, questioning the prosecution, led by Harry Nell, had little chance of successfully winning its no bail bid for Oscar Pistorius. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nail, who would notably be suspended and facing corruption charges himself just three and a half years later for allegedly receiving kickbacks, ruled in favor of the defense and set the bail amount at one million Rand, which was equivalent to approximately one hundred thirteen thousand dollars. For an athlete of Oscar's stature, this amount was a drop in the bucket. Additional conditions of Oscar's bail included surrendering his passports, refraining from alcohol consumption, and reporting to a police station twice a week. Oscar Pistorius was released from police custody on February twenty second, twenty thirteen, just nine days after Reva Steinekamp's death, to await his trial as a freeman. Now, while Oscar's relationship with his father had been strained ever since Hank Pastorius walked out on the family, Oscar did have the benefit of an enduring close relationship with his paternal uncle, Arnold Pistorius, and Arnold's wife, Lois Pastorius. Arnold and Lois had taken Oscar and his siblings in after their biological mother, Sheila's death and raised him from age fifteen onwards. Uncle Arnold and Aunt Lois were Oscar's rocks, and he needed them now more than ever. As soon as he was released on bail, Oscar went to live with them in their magnificent home in the upscale suburb of Watercloof in Pretoria. Their estate was the perfect place to hunker down and prepare for trial. The three story mansion provided relative privacy from the relentless press frenzy. While media outlets from around the world camped outside of Arnold and Lois Pastorius' home, the most they could hope for was a glimpse of the blade runner behind a massive gate in leafy trees. Oscar Pistorius' family and legal team focused on preparing for the upcoming trial. His defense attorneys, Barry Rue and Kenny old Wage were notoriously dogged, with a history of taking on and winning high profile cases. Notably, attorney old Wage had successfully defended Oscar Pistorius's brother Karl against the culpable homicide charge related to the death of a woman motorcyclist named Mariiki Barnard in a traffic accident in two thousand and eight. The combination of attorneys rue and old wage was formidable, and the Pistorius family didn't stop there. Scientists such as top forensic pathologists Reggi Peramol and private investigators were also highed to develop the strongest possible legal defense for Oscar. Even the court of public opinion was catered to by Oscar Pistorius's family with the hiring of Stuart Higgins, former editor of The Sun newspaper, assigned to pr The strategy of Oscar's supercharged team was singular and clear, to prove the shooting of Rivastinekamp was a tragic accident and not a premeditated murder? Could they do it? Everyone following the case was on the edge of their seat waiting to find out. So intensely was Oscar's trial anticipated that there were echoes of the oj Simpson cases mania Every development, every visit to the courthouse, and every statement from the legal teams was destined to be dissected and analyzed by pundits and experts from around the globe. The stage was set, and on March third, twenty fourteen, it was curtains up as the blade Runner entered the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria on the first day of his trial. It's important to note that he was not facing a jury of his peers. This is because in South Africa the judicial system doesn't use jury trials. Instead, a judge, sometimes assisted by assessors, decides the outcome of a case. For Oscar Pistorius, his fate lay in the hands of Judge Docozile Massipa, known by her friends as Tilly. Sixty six year old Judge Messipa had grown up under the hardships of apartheid and risen to become the country's second black female judge. According to The Financial Times, Judge Massipa had also earned a reputation for defending women's rights, and the year before Oscar's trial, she had notably sentenced to Siria rapist to two hundred and fifty years in prison. If the prosecution's case stuck. It seemed unlikely that Judge Messipa would serve up a lenience sentence for Oscar Pistorius, and the prosecution's case was daunting. Oscar faced multiple serious charges, including illegal possession of ammunition, culpable homicide which we call manslaughter in the US, and premeditated murder. Premeditated murder was by far the most serious charge, and if Oscar was found guilty on this charge, it came with a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of twenty five years served before parole eligibility. Prosecutor Harry Nell, known as the pit Bull in South African legal circles for his fierce courtroom demeanor and meticulous attention to detail, hammered home the premeditated murder charge. Prosecutor Nell argued that Oscar Pistorius had not acted out of fear of an intruder, but out of rage following a heated argument with Revstine Camp. As reported by The New York Times, Harry Nell said it defied comprehension that Revastein Camp had not screamed, as Oscar asserted when he shot her in the head. Prosecutor Nell also said that if Oscar Pasorius had truly feared an intruder, then it was inconceivable that he would not have checked that Riva was safe before drawing his gun. The forensic evidence presented by the prosecution was crucial to supporting Harry Nell's argument. Bullet trajectories and the grouping of shots all suggested a deliberate and calculated act. Results of A partial autopsy revealed that Riva had been struck by three of the four bullets that had been fired through the bathroom door, sustaining wounds to her head, hip and arm. Captain Christian Mangana, a ballistic expert, told the court that after being hit in the right hip, revastein Camp fell backwards and three more bullets were fired. He believed the fatal shot went through her left hand into her skull as she crossed her arms over her head to protect herself. Forensic investigator Colonel Johannes Vermullin then demonstrated that Oscar Pistorius had not been wearing his prosthetics at the time he forced the door open with a cricket bat after the shooting. As the defense claimed, Colonel Vermullin reenacted wielding a cricket bat at a door in court before declaring that everyone could see the marks on the door are actually consistent with Oscar not having his legs on. But even more damning than the forensic evidence and Prosecutor Harry Nell's tenacious arguments were Reva's own words. Her mobile phone was recovered from the bathroom where she died, and her text messages to Oscar were revealing I was not flirting with anyone today. I feel sick that you suggested that Reva texted Oscar in one instance, providing a glimpse into his jealous and controlling nature. You have picked on me excessively, Reva wrote, I do everything to make you happy and to not say anything to rock the boat with you. Reva's words painted a picture of a relationship fraud, with tension and insecurity, undermining the Defensi's portrayal of a loving couple an Oscar's portrayal of himself as grief stricken and innocent. Prosecutor Harry Nell unsurprisingly used Reva's messages to argue that Oscar Pistorius had a documented history of emotional instability and controlling behavior, which culminated in the tragic event of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen. She was standing there talking to you when you shot her in the head, Prosecutor Nell said to Oscar and cross examination, Reva was not scared of an intruder. She was scared of you. You shot at her, knowing she was behind that door. You shot and killed her. Won't you take responsibility for that? But even as Riva's parents, June and Barry choked back tears in the courtroom. Oscar did not admit responsibility. Rather, his defense team attempted to contextualize the text messages, with Attorney Berri Roux arguing that all couples have disagreements. Out of that more than seventeen hundred text messages, you found four relevant to an argument. Attorney Rue pointedly asked data analysts Captain Francois Moler. Captain Mohler said yes, before Attorney Rue steam rolled ahead to share some of the loving texts between his client and the deceased. These included a text in which Oscar told Riva that he was the luckiest guy ever, and in another exchange that she looked amaze balls. The defense was hopeful that by sharing some of these lighter exchanges, they'd managed to portray a more balanced view of the relationship between Riva and Oscar, but they weren't counting on Judge Massipa being won over by this counter argument. Oscar Pistorius's top notch defense team knew that they had to convince the judge that their client's actions had been genuinely driven by fear rather than malice. To avoid the premeditated murder charge. They needed her to you Oscar as a man deeply traumatized by crime, living in constant fear due to the high crime rates in South Africa, his disability, defense attorney Barry Rue argued, would naturally have made Oscar feel even more vulnerable at the prospect of an intruder, particularly as he would have been physically smaller without his legs on than any trespasser. Further, attorney rupressed, it was evident that Oscar Pistorius's emotional state was that of a devastated man. While one of Oscar's neighbors, Michelle Berger, told the court how she'd been woken up by a woman's blood curdling screams, Barry Rue insisted that she could not prove the screams came from Reva rather than a distraught Oscar Pistorius. After all, the defense reminded the judge Oscar's other neighbor, doctor Johann Stipp, had believed Oscar's genuine heartbreak after the shooting. Whoa. Yvette von Skulkwik, the social worker and probation officer assigned to Oscar after the shooting, also testified that, in her professional opinion, he was heartbroken, genuinely sorry for Reva's parents, suffering emotionally and deeply missing Riva. Yvette's perspective as a social worker was shared by clinical psychologist Jonathan Schultz, who assessed Oscar and provided a report read by defense attorney Barry Rue in court. This report stated that mister Oscar Pastorius has been severely traumatized by the events that took place on fourteen February twenty thirteen. He currently suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. The degree of anxiety andres es that is present is significant. He is also mourning the loss of Miss Reevastemcamp. Mister Pistorius is being treated and should continue to receive clinical care by a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist for his current condition. Should he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen and increase the risk for suicide. Judge Tilli Masipa was in a challenging position. Both the defense and prosecution in Oscar Pistorius's trial were at the top of their legal games, and the most compelling words were, of course, yet to be uttered. In her courtroom. On April seventh, twenty fourteen, Oscar himself took the stand with the whole world watching. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to missus and mister Steencamp, to Reva's family, to those of you who knew her who are here today. There hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family, Oscar began. I wake up every morning, and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family. I was simply trying to protect Riva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night, she felt loved. According to the BBC, Reva Steinkamp's mother, June, watched stony face as Oscar spoke. Oscar captivated viewers with his dramatic courtroom behavior in the coming weeks, which ranged from vomiting when pictures of Riva's wounds were displayed to multiple tearful breakdowns. His emotional testimony was, of course, a key element of his defense team's strategy aimed at humanizing him and eliciting empathy from Judge Messipa. It proved to be a highly effective strategy. Judge Messipa respond compassionately to Oscar Pistorius' emotional upheaval, adjourning the trial several times so that he could compose himself in the court of public opinion. These adjournments helped paint a picture of a man deeply affected by the loss of his girlfriend, reinforcing the defense's narrative of Revasteinekamp's killing as a genuine, tragic mistake. The breaks for Oscar during the trial also supported attorney ruse argument that his client's emotional instability was consistent with someone who would act it out of fear and panic. The morning of February fourteenth, twenty thirteen, rather than premeditation, forty one days after Oscar Pistorius's trial had begun, it was done. Prosecutor Harry Nell's closing arguments reiterated the key points of their case, the forensic evidence of premeditation, the volatile nature of Oscar and Revas's RS relationship, and Oscar's reckless history with firearms. Defense attorney Barry Roue's closing arguments reiterated the key points of their case that investigators had mishandled the crime scene, that the prosecution's case was not airtight beyond a reasonable doubt, and that Oscar was clearly emotionally impacted by what had transpired, a man devastated by his own terrible mistake. No one was arguing that Reva's life had been lost. Attorney Roue emphasized the defense did believe, however, that since there was no intention on Oscar's part to kill Reva, that the shooting should have only led to a charge of culpable homicide rather than premeditated murder. With the closing arguments complete, it was time for Judge Tillie Masipa to deliberate. She told both sides to return to the High Court in Pretoria on September eleventh, twenty fourteen, to hear her ruling. As everyone waited with anticipation to learn Oscar's fate, many legal experts weighed in with their predictions. Criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor Marius de Troy, for one, told The New York Times that I would think that the ruling would be between culpable homicide and premeditated murder. I don't know if the state has done enough for murder to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, and I think Oscar Pistorius may have done too much for culpable homicide. Would Toy's prediction prove accurate? On September eleventh, twenty fourteen, all parties reconvened in court to hear Judge Tilly Masipa's verdict. Now, it can take hours or even days for a verdict to be delivered, and so it wasn't until the next day, September twelfth, twenty fourteen, that Oscar Pistorius learned his fate. The BBC reported that Judge massip but didn't mince her words when she said the athlete Oscar Pistorius, who has a good knowledge of guns, acted negligently by firing four shots into a confined space. She questioned why he did not phone for help or run to the balcony instead of confronting the apparent danger, questions that have plagued many But then, having admonished Oscar with these words, and despite clear outrage from Prosecutor Harry Nell, Judge Messipa announced that Oscar Pistorius was not guilty of murder. She only found Oscar guilty of culpable homicide. I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent. Judge Massipa declared. Oscar was given a five year jail sentence and sent to Pretoria's hosimm Peru prison, which houses approximately seven thousand inmates. His defense team told reporters that they expected Oscar to serve about ten months in the prison's hospital wing before being transferred to house arrest for the duration of his sentence. The public's reaction to Oscar Pistorius's sentence was swift and mostly negative. In the Twitter verse, many expressed outrage at such a short sentence. The hashtag things longer than Oscar's sentence trended closer to home. South Africans were also conflicted, with many feeling that justice had not been served. The Women's League of the ruling African National Congress party said that it was dissatisfied with the culpable homicide conviction and that Oscar Pistorius should have been found guilty of murder. It urged prosecutors to appeal in a statement which read, we hold that regardless of who missed Pistorius believed to be behind the bathroom door that fateful night, he shot to kill Ill, and therefore a murder did occur. Remarkably, Reva Steenkamp's mother, June, was among the minority who expressed initial support for Judge Messipa's lenient ruling. I didn't want Oscar to be thrown in jail and be suffering because I don't wish suffering on anyone, and his incarceration isn't going to bring Reva back, June said in a speech at Reva's former school in Port Elizabeth. June also told BBC three that there's never going to be closure. How can there be closure. Reva's not coming back. We just have to try and move on with our life. You know. I'm going to build shelters for abused women, raise money for that. Reva's father, Barry, also expressed in the same BBC three interview that he too was pleased that the whole thing is over, but he seemed less inclined to move on than his wife. Before I forgive, forgive, like any forgiveness, I want to talk to Oscar first, Barry said, through tears. It won't be anything nice or anything like that. But I'd like to sit down and talk to him. Barry and Junesteen Camp would visit Oscar in prison nine years later, on June twenty second, twenty twenty two, but the conversation wouldn't unfold the way they imagined, and the road to that discussion would be fraught with complication. Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on October nineteenth, twenty fifteen, to continue his sentence under house arrest, as his defense team had predicted. The only thing his all star defense team hadn't foreseen was a successful appeal by the prosecution. Harry Nell had filed the appeal believing strongly that Judge Massipa's culpable homicide ruling had been a miscarriage of justice. According to his appeal application, as reported by Independent Online, there were three aggravating major factors that Judge Messipa should have taken into account in her sentencing. The number of shots fired, that Oscar had already formed the intention to shoot in his bedroom before he had even approached the bathroom, and lastly, the Supreme Court of Appeals rejection of Oscar Pistorius's claims of self defense with the Appellate Court's support of the prosecution, Oscar's conviction was upgraded to murder and his case was sent back to the lower court and Judge Messipa for re sentencing. When the case returned to court on July sixth, twenty sixteen, Judge Mesceepa sentenced Oscar Pistorius to six years in prison for murder, rather than the five years she'd handed down previously for culpable homicide. Those who had been upset by Oscar's initial lenient sentence felt that Judge Messeepa had missed a second opportunity to realize justice for Refestine Camp, as reported by The New York Times. Gareth Knewhim, a criminal justice researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, said that it was not unusual for a judge to consider mitigating factors in deviating from sentencing guidelines, but the six year sentence from Judge Massipa for murder, he said, would most likely anger a public that has come to regard mister Pistorius much less sympathetically. Reeva's parents had also been living with their terrible loss for over three years. By Oscar's second sentencing, and having discovered that time was not dissipating their pain. Their initial acceptance of Judge Messipa's leniency had soured. The New York Times reported that Barry Steenkamp gave tearful testimony at Oscar's second sentencing and that mister Pistoria's had to pay for his crime. Mister Steenkamp said his daughter's killing had contributed to his having a stroke. Mister Steenkamp, a diabetic, said that his grief has been so severe that he would take his insolence syringe and quote shove it into my stomach and my own arms to see if I could feel the same type of pain but no. Prosecutors were also gobsmacked by Judge Mascipa's six year sentence for murder and the Pitbull. Harry Nell promptly appealed again, arguing that Oscar Pistorius's revised jail term was still less than half the fifteen years the prosecution had sought. The National Prosecuting Authority agreed with Harry Nell that the sentence was disproportionate to the crime and could bring the entire South African justice system into disrepute. The National Prosecuting Authority released a statement saying we hope that this appeal will also clarify further the principles of sentencing, particularly in crime categories for which there are prescribed minimum sentences ordained by legislation. But Judge Massepa fired back in defensive for sentencing, explaining that she had given Oscar Pistorius a six year sentence because mitigating circumstances such as rehabilitation and remorse had outweighed aggravating factors such as his failure to fire a warning shot. The BBC reported the JUDGEMENTSIPA further stated that public opinion may be loud and persistent, but it can play no role in the decision of this court. In South African legal circles, however, there was a growing cry to write the perceived wrong against Revasteine Camp and her surviving family. On November twenty fourth, twenty seventeen, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the prosecutor's appeal against Oscar Pistorius his six year sentence for the murder of Revasteine Camp. Supreme Court Justice Willie Serreedi announced that the sentence of six years imprisonment is shockingly lenient, to a point where it is the effect of trivializing this serious offense. Oscar's sentence was instantly doubled to thirteen years and five months. Under South African law, all offenders are entitled to be considered for parole once they have served half their total sentence. Oscar Pistorius would now be eligible for parole in twenty twenty three instead of twenty nineteen. Among Oscar's visitors in prison were Barry and June's Steam Camp. Despite Oscar's increased prison sentence, Reva's parents could not find peace. They needed the conversation that Barry had told the BBC he'd wanted back in twenty fourteen. They had to hear the truth directly from Oscar about their daughter's final moments. However, their sit down with Oscar in June twenty twenty two did not feel productive to the grief stricken Steam Camps. Barry told Good Morning Britain that all June and I wanted to know from Oscar was the truth. What we feel was the truth that he actually killed her because of anger. June and Barry turned their personal tragedy and lack of closure into something positive for society by forming the Reva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation to educate and empower victims of violence and abuse. But even as they poured their energy into the foundation, refocusing attention on their daughter's life, Barry's health deteriorated. On September fourteenth, twenty twenty three, less than a month after he planned the commemorative fortieth birthday of Riva, Barry passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. The Steenkamp family's lawyer and spokesperson, Tanya Kuhn, told News twenty three that June and the rest of the family are in a state of shock because they did not expect this at all. Barry's health had always been a problem, but there was no illness when he died. He was very emotional over Reva's death and so loyal. Barry could just never get over Reva's death. As June Steencamp grappled with the loss of her beloved husband a decade after the murder of her daughter, Oscar pistoria Is prepared himself for parole. After serving nearly eight years of his thirteen year and five month sentence, Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on January fifth, twenty twenty four. His release was met with mixed reactions mirroring the divided public opinion that dogged the case from the beginning. Some saw his release as a second chance for a man who had paid his debt to society, while others viewed it as another reminder of the pain, tragedy and injustice of Rev. Esteemcamp's death. Since his release, Oscar has faced the daunting task of reintegrating into society. It hasn't been easy. According to The New York Post, He's been ostracized by his former pals, and while Oscar has reached out to at least two members of the International Paralympic Committee asking if they could work together in any capacity, he was quickly rebuffed. One of the committee members, who received a message from Oscar explained, he's too toxic to work with now. There's nothing for him here. Perhaps this is why Oscar has turned his immediate focus to religion and charitable work. According to his parole paperwork, Oscar has listed his volunteer work at n G kirk Waterklouf, the Dutch Reformed church which is attended by his uncle Arnold Pastorius. Oscar does light maintenance and janitorial work for the church, and he quietly attends services that New York Post reported, of course, it's unlikely that Oscar will be quietly doing anything after his media ban is lifted. In twenty twenty nine, the BBC speculated that Oscar's fame means he will find a platform, and the renewed presence of Oscar on the world stage will be unwelcomed to June Steamcamp, who continues to push herself forward against all the odds in honor of her daughter. My only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace, with my focus remaining on the Viva Rebecca Steamcamp Foundation to continue Reva's legacy. June Steamcamp told the BBC, as we reflect on the story of Oscar Pastorius, the Blade Runner, we're reminded of the duality of the human spirit, the capacity for both greatness and profound depravity. Oscar's story is also forever intertwined with Reva Steamcamp, whose life was cut tragically short, but whose legacy continues through her family's foundation. For more information, please visit Reva Steamcampfoundation dot org. That's r e E v A s t e e n KA MP Foundation dot o RG. June Stemcamp's efforts to empower women is a true testament to Reva's memory, while this scandal is Oscar Pistorius's The inspirational story of the Steamcamp family strength despite immeasurable grief belongs to Reva. I'm Jay Harris and this has been Playing Dirty Sports Scandals. Join me next week for another gripping story from the world of sports, where triumph and scandal are often served blended. Playing Dirty Sports Scandals is a production of Dan Patrick Productions, Never Ever Productions and Workhouse Media from executive producers Dan Patrick, Paul Anderson, Nick Panela, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Claring. Hosted by Jay Harris, Written and produced by Jen Brown, Francie Haiks, Maya Glickman, and Jennifer Clare.