Steenkamp family make demands on filmmakers

The Steenkamp family have issued a second statement through their lawyers following the release of the first trailer last weekend. 

Their lawyer Tania Koen says June and Barry Steenkamp note the company's statement issued on 5 October that their soon to be released film "has not been seen or endorsed" by the Steenkamp family. 

However, they believe the statement is not enough.

It follows claims in the Deadline Hollywood that "the movie is told from Steenkamp and her mother's perspective".

Koen says: "They (the Steenkamp family) request that Ms Nancy Dubuc, the president or CEO of A+E Networks, unequivocally state that the Steenkamps had no knowledge of the film; they were not informed, advised or approached or consulted by Lifetime to participate, comment or be part of the making of the film; they gave no assistance to the producers and the film is accordingly not made from the perspective of June or their beloved Reeva."

Lifetime Movies, a digital cable and satellite TV network in the United States, created the film which is set to premier in the US in November.

The movie features Andreas Damm, who plays Oscar and Reeva is played by actress Toni Garn.

The film chronicles the real-life story of the fatal Valentine's Day shooting, the Blade Runner's relationship with Steenkamp and his lengthy trial.  

A release date for South Africa is yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, a date has been set for the state's application for leave to appeal Pistorius' jail term.

The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal on 3 November.

Pistorius, a former Paralympian, has been convicted of murder.

In June 2016 he began serving his six-year jail term.

He had initially been found guilty of culpable homicide and received a five-year prison sentence, but on appeal by the state he was found guilty of murder. 

NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku told Jacaranda FM News that the six-year jail term is shockingly inappropriate.