Axe killings: Marli out of hospital

NO SHOW: BROTHER HAS NOT VISITED

Police say progress has been made in investigations.

Sixteen-year-old Marli van Breda, who survived an axe attack that left her mother, father and eldest brother dead, has been discharged from hospital and is being visited by close family at a rehabilitation clinic.

However, there is no confirmation her brother Henri, the other surviving family member, has visited her.

The Van Breda family were attacked in their home at the De Zalze Golf Estate in Stellenbosch in the early hours of January 27. Martin van Breda, 54, his wife, Teresa, 55, and their eldest son Rudi, 22, were murdered.

Advocate Martin Coetzee, Marli’s lawyer, confirmed she had been moved to a rehabilitation centre, where she is receiving physical and occupational therapy. She was discharged from the Vergelegen Mediclinic in Somerset West on Friday.

Coetzee said although Marli recognised people, could talk and smile, her “condition is not of such a nature to give a comprehensive statement” to the police.

He said Marli was allowed visitors, but visits were controlled and restricted to close family members, including her guardians.

Coetzee said, as far as he knew, her brother Henri had not been to visit her.

Marli has been in hospital since the attack, in which she sustained severe head injuries and a severed jugular.

Henri, who has been staying with an uncle, had injuries that were reportedly self-infl icted.

Although no arrests have been made, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has received the murder docket to decide whether or not to prosecute.

NPA Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the docket had been received.

Although the content of the document gave an indication on who to charge, it did not mean they had a suspect or suspects, Ntabazalila said.

“A docket can be brought to the NPA for a decision, even if there isn’t a suspect.”

Police have kept quiet about the developments in their investigations since the triple murder, saying only the investigation was ongoing and progress had been made.