Pistorious to hold private memorial for Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorious will hold a private memorial Tuesday for his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he is accused of murdering.

According to a statement by the Paralympian's publicist, Vuma Reputation Management, "Oscar Pistorius will hold a private memorial service for Reeva Steenkamp at the house of his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, tonight."

News 24 said that the media has been asked to respect his privacy.

''Oscar has asked for a private service with people who share his loss, including his family members who knew and loved Reeva as one of their own,'' the statement said, according to the Associated Press.

The athlete's private memorial comes just a week after another memorial was held for Steenkamp in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She was cremated after the service.

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The 26-year-old Pistorious has been accused of killing his girlfriend on the night of Feb. 14. He claims that he thought he was shooting an intruder, while prosecutors allege he murdered Steenkamp in cold blood.

Pistorious was released on $113,000 bail last week and was ordered to turn in his guns and passport.

In another twist in he case, the Chief Magistrate presiding over the case confirmed that his first cousin had killed herself and two children over the weekend, reported the Associated Press.

Experts interviewed by the AP said that Pistorius appears to have violated basic gun safety rules, according to his account of what happened the night Steenkamp was killed.

"There is no situation in South Africa that allows a person to shoot at a threat that is not identified," Andre Pretorius, president of the Professional Firearm Trainers Council in South Africa, told the AP. He added: "You can't shoot through a closed door."

Pistorius is said to have fired fatal shots at Steenkamp through a closed bathroom door.