Axe-murder blood spatter in contention

THE axeman’s blows which stole his brother’s life were so forceful that they sent drops of blood flying several metres through Henri van Breda’s second-storey bedroom window and onto the neighbour’s wall.

But the position of the droplets and the impenetrability of the fortified De Zalze security estate in Stellenbosch were two of the aspects in contention on the third day of Van Breda’s trial in the Cape Town High Court yesterday.

The 22-year-old is accused of killing his mother‚ father and brother‚ and of attempting to kill his younger sister, with an axe.

Defence advocate Piet Botha claimed it would be possible to scale a gate at a section of De Zalze’s perimeter.

Judge Siraj Desai responded that it would be extremely hazardous for someone to climb the gate as there was electric fencing on top that could trigger security alarms if it was touched.

The submissions came a day after the inspection of the crime scene‚ where Van Breda’s attorney‚ Lorinda van Niekerk‚ demonstrated that once on the premises of the estate‚ it would be possible to breach the boundary of 12 Goske Street, the crime scene, via a side gate at No 11.

Botha also said he did not admit that the entire perimeter of the estate was fenced‚ electrified and/or equipped with cameras.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.