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Cousin: Reeva Steenkamp's death 'ruined our family'

Kim Martin delivered devastating testimony on what happened after Oscar Pistorius shot her cousin Reeva Steenkamp to death.

By Gabrielle Levy

PRETORIA, South Africa, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin said her first reaction to hearing that Oscar Pistorius had allegedly shot his girlfriend was that she hoped he was cheating.

"I hope to God he's cheating on Reeva," Martin recalled telling her husband, in testimony for the sentencing portion of Pistorius' trial.

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The double-amputee Olympian was found guilty of culpable homicide in shooting Steenkamp to death, believing her to be an intruder, on Valentines Day 2013. The defense argued earlier in the week that Pistorius was "broken" by her death, that he has accepted responsibility and should serve a relatively light sentence of three years of house arrest and community service.

In calling Martin to the stand, Prosecutor Gerrie Nel attempted to demonstrate just how devastating Steenkamp's death had been to her loved ones.

"Reeva needs a voice and it's my way of being able to pay her back for what she went through," Martin said, explaining her decision to testify.

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She described a heart-wrenching scene at the Steenkamp home in Port Elizabeth. Reeva's mother, June, was hysterical and heavily medicated, while her father Barry "just sat in the corner crying, crying, crying."

Both have suffered physical ailments, too, and Barry Steenkamp has had "a couple of strokes." "It's terrible. I'd say it's ruined our whole family," Martin said, adding that she has been seeing a psychologist and her daughter spent two weeks getting help coping in a youth institution.

Nel said the damage Pistorius had caused should result in jail time, pushing for the 15-year maximum.

"Taking the life of another human being is always a serious offense, which leads to outrage and demands heavy punishment and that sentences should indicate to society that our courts and society value human life," Nel said.

A verdict may come as soon as the end of the week.

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