Blood belies Henri’s claims

The Western Cape High Court has heard evidence that bloodstains in the Van Breda family home do not support Henri van Breda’s police statement.

Police bloodstain analyst Captain Marius Joubert told the court Henri van Breda’s version of events was inconsistent with blood spatter patterns in the luxury estate De Zalze in Stellenbosch. He said evidence led him to believe the crime scene was staged after the murders.

Van Breda, 22, is facing three charges of murder for the alleged axe killings of his mother Teresa, father Martin and brother Rudi. He also faces a charge of attempted murder for allegedly attacking his sister, Marli, who sustained brain injuries and cannot recall the events of January 27, 2015.

Van Breda, pictured, claimed that while in the toilet, he heard a noise in the bedroom he shared with Rudi. He opened the door and saw someone attacking Rudi. He said his father ran in and jumped on to Rudi’s attacker.

But Joubert said Van Breda’s alleged position was inconsistent with blood spatter patterns on his shorts and socks, which showed he had been “in close proximity to the source of blood when force was applied”.

He told the court that Van Breda’s father had no defence wounds, which indicated that his attacker had surprised him.

In his police statement, Van Breda said his mother was attacked in the passage and Joubert said bloodstain evidence was consistent with Van Breda’s version of the location.

Joubert believed objects may have been washed because the blood of Rudi, Martin and a DNA mixture from Teresa was found in the shower. He placed Henri close to the victims during the attacks.

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