Graphic images of Reeva Steenkamp's injuries shown as Pistorius walks on stumps in court

WARNING: GRAPHIC: Bruised and bloodied, the last photos taken of model Reeva Steenkamp show extensive gunshot wounds to her head and body as she lay slumped and lifeless on the bathroom floor of Oscar Pistorius’ apartment.

Six graphic images were approved for release by Judge Thokozile Masipa after Steenkamp’s parents wanted the ‘world to see’ the pain and suffering caused by her boyfriend.

June and Barry Steenkamp scoured through dozens of horrific photos to select the six to be released to the public.

The images shows Steenkamp's hair matted with blood and severe bruising around her eye, supposedly caused by the impact of the bullet that hit her skull.

The photographs were too graphic to show without blurring.

Pistorius removed his prosthetic legs in the South African Courtroom as part of his defence team’s argument that the double-amputee athlete is a vulnerable man who deserves leniency when he is sentenced.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux asked Pistorius to remove his prostheses, and the former track star then hobbled in front of Judge Masipa.

Pistorius will be sentenced on July 6, the judge said at the end of today's hearing.

"This matter is postponed to Wednesday the 6th of July for sentencing," Judge Masipa said.

He appeared unsteady at times, and the demonstration drew gasps from some onlookers in the courtroom.

The former track star, who had changed from a suit into athletic clothes for the demonstration, then returned to a bench where he sat alone, head bowed.

Pistorius was on his stumps when he fatally shot Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door in his home 2013; he testified at his murder trial that he felt vulnerable and thought an intruder was in the house.

Prosecutors have said Pistorius intentionally killed Steenkamp after an argument.

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel later spoke, countering the defence argument that Pistorius is a “broken man” because of the grief from killing Steenkamp and the trauma that followed as the world focused on his case.

Nel referred to the emotional testimony a day earlier of Barry Steenkamp, father of the victim.

“If you ever want to talk about a broken man, we saw a broken man there,” Nel said of Mr Steenkamp.

Pistorius is living under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Steenkamp multiple times in 2013. That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder.

Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder, will decide the new sentence. The hearing is scheduled to run through to Friday.

South Africa has a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, although a judge can reduce that in some circumstances.

Earlier on Wednesday, defence lawyer Roux said there are misconceptions over Pistorius’ murder conviction as he asked Masipa for leniency. Roux said “substantial and compelling circumstances“ existed that would allow the judge to deviate from the minimum term of 15 years in prison.

Roux’s plea to Judge Masipa followed the testimony of the final witness at the hearing, a cousin of Steenkamp, who accused Pistorius himself of not giving the “true version” of the shooting.

The cousin, Kim Martin, also criticised Pistorius for not testifying at this week’s sentencing hearing but agreeing to a television interview that will be broadcast after the hearing ends.

“I think it’s very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you had the opportunity in court to do so,” Martin said.