South African Paralympics sprint star Oscar Pistorius made a rare public statement Friday expressing his grief over the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day in 2013.
“No words can adequately capture my feelings about the devastating accident that has caused such heartache for everyone who truly loved—and continues to love Reeva,” Pistorius said in the statement, delivered one year to the day after the shooting. “The pain and sadness—especially for Reeva’s parents, family and friends consumes me with sorrow.”
Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, was shot three times while she was in the bathroom of her boyfriend’s home in the early hours of Feb. 14 last year. Pistorius says the shooting was an accident and that he mistook her for an intruder. But prosecutors allege that Pistorius had planned the shooting following a fight between the couple. Pistorius is due to go on trial next month.
“The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” he said.