Close friend reveals another side of Reeva

Intimate photographs of Reeva Steenkamp show her life through the eyes of a close friend - as Oscar Pistorius begins his sentence of five years' imprisonment.

The images show Steenkamp as a law student - before her modelling career took off.

They were captured by close friend Kerry Smith, 37, who met Steenkamp at the University of Port Elizabeth in 2002, where they both studied law.

Smith, an aspiring photographer, tested her camera skills using Steenkamp as her subject.

One set of photos shot by Smith shows Steenkamp, then 19, posing innocently at Sardinia Bay in Port Elizabeth.

Smith said: "She was shy and self-conscious at first, but eventually grew comfortable in front of the camera.

"Reeva was always the down-to-earth girl next door - you can see that the first few photos are of her in a black polo neck sweater with no flesh showing.

"The whole process was drowned out in fits of laughter while we tried to be professional and serious."

Smith said she and Steenkamp were passionate about issues such as domestic violence and discussed plans to open a clinic for women in abusive relationships.

"Reeva wouldn't back down from things she stood against."