Judge Desai to hear Van Breda murder case

RESPECTED Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai is set to preside over the triple murder trial against Henri van Breda scheduled to start next month.

Van Breda is accused of hacking to death his brother Rudi, mother Teresa and father Martin in their De Zalze Estate home two years ago.

He also faces a charge of attempted murder related to an attack on his younger sister Marli and a charge of defeating the ends of justice. Marli is expected to be a State witness.

The trial begins on March 27.

The family murders sent shock waves through the community two years ago. Initial reports were that an axe-wielding intruder had killed three family members and injured Marli and Henri.

However, more than a year after the killings, Henri, who had claimed to be one of the victims, handed himself over to the police. He is out on R100 000 bail. In pretrial hearings, the State indicated it was ready for trial but the defence said it needed time to finalise its expert analysis of the evidence against the accused.

Among some of the high-profile cases Judge Desai has presided over was the murder of South African artist Taliep Petersen by his wife Najwa Petersen. She was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Recently, Judge Desai ruled that Western Cape employers could not enforce garnishee orders obtained outside the province, on their employees’ salaries. The ruling was seen as victory for affected employees, most of whom worked as farmworkers.

He was nominated for the Public Protector position and was among the five shortlisted candidates to succeed Thuli Madonsela when her term ended last year.

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane was appointed.

noloyiso.mtembu@inl.co.za

PICTURE: AYANDA NDAMANE Murder accused Henri van Breda outside the Western Cape High Court.

Judge Siraj Desai