THE mother of Reeva Steenkamp, who was killed by her paralympic athlete boyfriend has said she 'cannot believe' the judge believed his story.

June Steenkamp, who was born in Blackburn, was speaking after Oscar Pistorius, who is known as the ‘Blade Runner’, was found guilty of culpable homicide, but cleared of murdering the model in South Africa on Valentine’s Day last year.

Mrs Steenkamp, speaking to the American news channel NBC, said she disd not believe the killing was an accident.

She said: “Reeva died a horrible, painful death and she suffered.

“He shot through the door and I cannot believe that they believe that it was an accident.”

Mrs Steenkamp was born in Blackburn and spent some of her childhood in the East Lancashire town with her parents Harold and Irene Marshall.

They lived in Heys Lane until around 1969 before moving to a bungalow in Langho and then eventually to South Africa.

The world was stunned when Pistorius shot her daughter at their home in Pretoria, South Africa, claiming he thought his girlfriend was an intruder.

He admitted shooting her, but said he had never meant to kill her.

But Judge Thokozile Masipa found that the double-amputee, a poster boy for South African and Paralympic sport, acted ‘negligently’ on the night he shot and killed the law graduate.

The High Court judge acquitted him of pre-meditated murder and second-degree murder, but found him guilty of manslaughter - known in the South African judicial system as culpable homicide.

He was released on bail until a sentencing hearing on October 13.

Mrs Steenkamp, said whatever sentence was passed down, it would not bring her daughter back.

She said: “I really do not care what happens to Oscar, it is not going to change anything because my daughter is never coming back.

“He is still living and breathing and she is gone forever.”

Culpable homicide carries a minimum prison sentence of five years in South Africa, although Pistorius could avoid jail time altogether if the judge decides to place him under house arrest with conditions.