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| Henri van Breda trial: The man who killed his family with an axe | Henri van Breda trial: The man who killed his family with an axe |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A South African paramedic describing the aftermath of the attack on the wealthy Van Breda family said it was the worst thing he had seen in his 39-year career. | A South African paramedic describing the aftermath of the attack on the wealthy Van Breda family said it was the worst thing he had seen in his 39-year career. |
| "Blood ran like a waterfall down the stairs," testified now-retired Christiaan Koegelenberg. | "Blood ran like a waterfall down the stairs," testified now-retired Christiaan Koegelenberg. |
| More than three years after Mr Koegelenberg walked into the midst of that horrific scene, a judge has found the family's only surviving son, Henri, guilty of using an axe to kill his mother, father and brother. | More than three years after Mr Koegelenberg walked into the midst of that horrific scene, a judge has found the family's only surviving son, Henri, guilty of using an axe to kill his mother, father and brother. |
| His younger sister managed to survive the attack in their home in a gated housing estate in Stellenbosch in South Africa's wine region. | His younger sister managed to survive the attack in their home in a gated housing estate in Stellenbosch in South Africa's wine region. |
| Van Breda, who was 20 at the time of attack, is due to be sentenced soon - but the motive for the horrific murders is still not known. | Van Breda, who was 20 at the time of attack, is due to be sentenced soon - but the motive for the horrific murders is still not known. |
| Some believe he did it was to inherit his father's multi-million dollar estate, but this was never proven. | Some believe he did it was to inherit his father's multi-million dollar estate, but this was never proven. |
| Whatever the motive, investigators and South Africans alike have been left shocked by the violent nature of the attack. | Whatever the motive, investigators and South Africans alike have been left shocked by the violent nature of the attack. |
| 'Close-knit family' | 'Close-knit family' |
| Martin and Teresa van Breda were found in a pool of blood on the first floor of their home on the De Zalze Golf Estate on the morning of 27 January 2015. | Martin and Teresa van Breda were found in a pool of blood on the first floor of their home on the De Zalze Golf Estate on the morning of 27 January 2015. |
| Close by was the body of their 22-year-old son Rudi and their 16-year-old daughter Marli, who was fighting to stay alive. Van Breda, meanwhile, had sustained only minor injuries. | Close by was the body of their 22-year-old son Rudi and their 16-year-old daughter Marli, who was fighting to stay alive. Van Breda, meanwhile, had sustained only minor injuries. |
| The attacker had moved quickly and determinedly. | The attacker had moved quickly and determinedly. |
| The Western Cape High Court agreed that the extent of the injuries meant that the assailant had intended to kill. | The Western Cape High Court agreed that the extent of the injuries meant that the assailant had intended to kill. |
| Van Breda gave a statement to police soon after the incident saying that a well-built black intruder was to blame. | Van Breda gave a statement to police soon after the incident saying that a well-built black intruder was to blame. |
| He described a man wearing gloves and a balaclava breaking into the family home. | He described a man wearing gloves and a balaclava breaking into the family home. |
| More from South Africa: | |
| A recording of his phone call to the emergency services, made at around 07:00, was played to the court. | A recording of his phone call to the emergency services, made at around 07:00, was played to the court. |
| "My... my family and me were attacked... by a guy with an axe," he said. | "My... my family and me were attacked... by a guy with an axe," he said. |
| But who would want to kill the family in such a brutal and merciless manner? | But who would want to kill the family in such a brutal and merciless manner? |
| "No-one," said Cornelius Andries van Breda. | "No-one," said Cornelius Andries van Breda. |
| He testified at his nephew's trial saying that his 54-year-old brother Martin and sister-in-law Teresa, 55, were loving people who had no enemies. | He testified at his nephew's trial saying that his 54-year-old brother Martin and sister-in-law Teresa, 55, were loving people who had no enemies. |
| He told the court they had been a close-knit family. | He told the court they had been a close-knit family. |
| 'Houdini could not have broken in' | 'Houdini could not have broken in' |
| Initially, Van Breda's version of events seemed plausible - he had sustained minor lacerations. | Initially, Van Breda's version of events seemed plausible - he had sustained minor lacerations. |
| South Africa's high crime rate also made it believable - many live in fear of the "intruder in the mask". | South Africa's high crime rate also made it believable - many live in fear of the "intruder in the mask". |
| Van Breda told the court that he wrestled the intruder, who then stabbed him in the torso with a knife. | Van Breda told the court that he wrestled the intruder, who then stabbed him in the torso with a knife. |
| But 18 months into the investigation, police believed Van Breda was the only suspect. | But 18 months into the investigation, police believed Van Breda was the only suspect. |
| He maintained his innocence during the trial. | He maintained his innocence during the trial. |
| Triple axe murder timeline | Triple axe murder timeline |
| The court heard that many, if not all, of his injuries had been self-inflicted. | The court heard that many, if not all, of his injuries had been self-inflicted. |
| The prosecution pointed to many other inconsistencies in Van Breda's testimony. | The prosecution pointed to many other inconsistencies in Van Breda's testimony. |
| Why would an intruder seeking to rob a home ignore valuable items downstairs and embark on a killing spree upstairs instead? | Why would an intruder seeking to rob a home ignore valuable items downstairs and embark on a killing spree upstairs instead? |
| Van Breda could not answer that. | Van Breda could not answer that. |
| He also could not answer why there were no signs of forced entry or why he had escaped the deep gashes his family suffered. | He also could not answer why there were no signs of forced entry or why he had escaped the deep gashes his family suffered. |
| Experts who analysed those gashes testified that they came from one attacker, who used the same amount of force on each victim. | Experts who analysed those gashes testified that they came from one attacker, who used the same amount of force on each victim. |
| The security experts at the trial all but said that not even Houdini could have broken into the Van Bredas' home. | The security experts at the trial all but said that not even Houdini could have broken into the Van Bredas' home. |
| The De Zalze Golf Estate has been described as a "medium-security" gated community. | The De Zalze Golf Estate has been described as a "medium-security" gated community. |
| But in truth it was considered one of the safest places to live in South Africa, with motion detectors, an alarm-system, 24-hour guard patrol, access-controlled gates and an electric fence. | But in truth it was considered one of the safest places to live in South Africa, with motion detectors, an alarm-system, 24-hour guard patrol, access-controlled gates and an electric fence. |
| Another inconsistency that unsettled the court was the amount of time it took Van Breda to ring the emergency services. | Another inconsistency that unsettled the court was the amount of time it took Van Breda to ring the emergency services. |
| Court papers reveal that a distressed Van Breda called his girlfriend at 04:42 numerous times, but they went unanswered. | Court papers reveal that a distressed Van Breda called his girlfriend at 04:42 numerous times, but they went unanswered. |
| He then searched the internet for local emergency numbers, not calling for help until nearly three hours later. | He then searched the internet for local emergency numbers, not calling for help until nearly three hours later. |
| It was argued that Van Breda wanted his family to bleed to death. | It was argued that Van Breda wanted his family to bleed to death. |
| Asked to account for the time lapse, the young man said he had collapsed after witnessing his family being attacked and remained unconscious for hours. | Asked to account for the time lapse, the young man said he had collapsed after witnessing his family being attacked and remained unconscious for hours. |
| 'Black sheep' | 'Black sheep' |
| A year before the attack, the Van Bredas had been living happily in Melbourne in Australia. | A year before the attack, the Van Bredas had been living happily in Melbourne in Australia. |
| They had decided to move back primarily because of Martin van Breda's business interests. | They had decided to move back primarily because of Martin van Breda's business interests. |
| His wife Teresa also wanted to live closer to her family. | His wife Teresa also wanted to live closer to her family. |
| Henri and their oldest son Rudi, a motor-sport enthusiast, remained in Australia as they were studying at the University of Melbourne. | Henri and their oldest son Rudi, a motor-sport enthusiast, remained in Australia as they were studying at the University of Melbourne. |
| They then joined the family in South Africa later in 2014. | They then joined the family in South Africa later in 2014. |
| In court, van Breda said they were "a normal family" with normal disagreements. | In court, van Breda said they were "a normal family" with normal disagreements. |
| If any of the children got into arguments with their parents, it was generally Marli who was "growing and rebelling," he said. | If any of the children got into arguments with their parents, it was generally Marli who was "growing and rebelling," he said. |
| Marli, who underwent extensive surgery and physiotherapy after the attack, still has no recollection of the horrific day. | Marli, who underwent extensive surgery and physiotherapy after the attack, still has no recollection of the horrific day. |
| Her extensive head injuries and self-defence wounds were used to lead testimony in court. | Her extensive head injuries and self-defence wounds were used to lead testimony in court. |
| Of all the victims, Marli, had put up the greatest fight. | Of all the victims, Marli, had put up the greatest fight. |
| Unlike her parents and brother, who were all believed to be asleep just seconds before the attack, she saw Van Breda coming and tried to fight him off. | Unlike her parents and brother, who were all believed to be asleep just seconds before the attack, she saw Van Breda coming and tried to fight him off. |
| A neighbour living a few hundred metres from the Van Bredas' home told the court she heard what sounded like loud, arguing voices late that evening. | A neighbour living a few hundred metres from the Van Bredas' home told the court she heard what sounded like loud, arguing voices late that evening. |
| The defence had argued it was the sound of a film being played at a high volume. | The defence had argued it was the sound of a film being played at a high volume. |
| Neighbours and close family friends described van Breda as always having been the "black sheep" of the family. | Neighbours and close family friends described van Breda as always having been the "black sheep" of the family. |
| While the other Van Breda children had been thriving at school and university, he had decided to drop out of his studies. | While the other Van Breda children had been thriving at school and university, he had decided to drop out of his studies. |
| He came to live with his parents in South Africa in August 2014, taking a "gap year" with no real plan for his life - perhaps disappointing his loving but strict father. | He came to live with his parents in South Africa in August 2014, taking a "gap year" with no real plan for his life - perhaps disappointing his loving but strict father. |
| He reportedly also had a drug addiction, leading his parents to threaten to cut-off his allowance if he did not clean up his act. | He reportedly also had a drug addiction, leading his parents to threaten to cut-off his allowance if he did not clean up his act. |
| Many believe the pressure of not measuring up to the expectations of the perfect family may have driven him to the edge, just months after he arrived in South Africa. | |
| But after 67 days in court, we still do not know what snapped in the mind of Henri van Breda to make turn on his family with an axe, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. | |