Reeva Steenkamp's parents release shocking photos of her dead body.

Editors note: We have decided to run the pictures of Reeva Steenkamp’s dead body as it is the express wish of her parents. Readers will need to click into a separate story below to see the images. Oscar Pistorius has been allowed to put his side of the story to the court. But victims such as Reeva are without a voice. Her father hopes that releasing these images will give back the voice of his daughter, which was taken by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius.

The family of murdered model Reeva Steenkamp has won an application to publicly release the devastating images of her mutilated face after she was shot by boyfriend Oscar Pistorius.

Judge Thokozile Masipa approved the request after father Barry Steenkamp begged for their release as a way to show the world the horrific head injuries Pistorius inflicted upon his daughter.

The former TV personality was shot by the ‘Blade Runner’ at his home in Pretoria, South Africa on Valentine’s Day three years ago.

Former Paralympic athlete Pistorius, 29, claimed he thought his girlfriend was an intruder and the shooting was a tragic mistake.

The sprinter was initially convicted of manslaughter before the verdict was upgraded to murder late last year. He is now in the midst of his second sentencing, facing 15 years behind bars.

The request to release the graphic images was  lodged by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel in a South African court.

Mr Steenkamp said he hoped unveiling the shocking photos might prevent similar crimes from happening in the future.

The Daily Mail reported Mr Nel voiced his support for Mr Steenkamp's demand that the "world see" the extent of Ms Steenkamp's pain.

"Isn't it time for the world to see what Oscar Pistorius did with Black Talon rounds to Reeva Steenkamp's head?" he said.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IMAGES TOO GRAPHIC TO POST. WARNING: EXTREME.

The bullets Mr Nel is referring to are military-grade ammunition designed to expand upon impact. The result devastates the flesh it hits and leaves victims with large gaping wounds.

The application was said to prompt Pistorius' family and supporters to shake their heads as Pistorius slumped forward in the dock.

Oscar's brother Carl Pistorius, expressed his disgust at the prosecutor's application on Twitter but later deleted his tweet.

Journalists at the trial described on Twitter how the Steenkamp family wanted to emphasise the physical devastation the bullets caused.

Mr Steenkamp broke down several times when he shared the impact of her death with the hearing.

"I think of her every day of my life, morning, noon and night, in the early hours of the morning, I think of her all the time," he told a sentencing hearing.

He also commented on his wife June's reaction to the death and the criticism she has faced.

"People say that June is 'stone-faced' but I know that June grieves like I do all the time,"  he said.

"She is probably a bit stronger, I hear her crying at night time and talking to Reeva and of course she feels just as much as I do."

The release of the images comes as Pistorius once again made headlines after he removed his prosthetic limbs and walked across the courtroom on the third day of his sentence hearing.

Judge Masipa is set to announce the sentence for Pistorius on July 6.