The spectre of blood money - being offered and accepted - has emerged for the first time in the Oscar Pistorius trial.
The court heard the athlete wanted to pay the Steenkamp parents a lump sum of more than £21,000 but this was rejected by Reeva's mother because she felt it was 'blood money'.
The Steenkamp lawyer, Dup De Bryn, said after the model was shot and killed by the double amputee runner, her parents were struggling financially.
They considered a civil claim for compensation against the runner.
The Pistorius legal team was told the Steenkamp family was broke and needed cash.
The athlete then came back and offered to pay them 6,000 South Africa Rand a month (or £350) and he'd been paying it ever since over the past 19 months or so making a total of about £6,000 to pay back.
When asked if the parents had found it difficult to accept the money from their daughter's killer, Mr De Bryn said: "It's not difficult when you have no money."
Sky News asked him why they were handing the money back now more than a year on and the answer was because their circumstances had changed.
The couple have signed a number of media deals in exchange for interviews at key points of the trial and this may be how their financial circumstances have improved.
The information emerged as a probation officer hired by the Pistorius defence said an offer of compensation indicated remorse on the runner's part.
Annette Vergeer also said prison would 'break' the double amputee and South African jails were not equipped to cope with his level of disability.
She was the second witness for the defence to suggest a period of house arrest with community service would be much more appropriate.
Ms Vergeer urged Judge Masipa not to give in to the public baying for a more severe punishment saying a correctional services sentence was not lenient.
Mr Vergeer said a range of programs designed to rehabilitate the athlete would help him reintegrate into society and as a young man, he still had much to contribute if allowed.
She indicated he - and society - would benefit more if his community service included not just domestic cleaning but also working with disabled or impoverished children who would see him still as inspirational.
The Pistorius family spokesman said they did not agree with the State's version about the financial payments to the Steenkamps and would be addressing this issue in court on Wednesday.
The prosecution still has two witnesses of its own to call and evidence may include an 'impact statement' from June Steenkamp on how her daughter's death has affected her family.
The family lawyer said they were not interested in making money from any claims and simply wanted closure.
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