Van Breda’s uncle recounts how he heard about the murders
HENRI van Breda was visibly affected as his uncle, Andre du Toit, testified in the trial-within-a-trial to establish the admissibility of his initial statement to police.
Du Toit is the brother of Teresa van Breda, Henri’s mother, who was axed to death along with her husband, Martin, and eldest son, Rudi, while her daughter, Marli, was badly injured but survived. He was called by the defence team to give evidence in the Western Cape High Court as they continued to attempt to prove that Henri’s initial statement was inadmissible.
Henri’s uncle told the court how he was informed about an emergency at the De Zalze Estate, Stellenbosch and arrived at the murder scene about 10am. Du Toit said while on the scene he had not seen his nephew.
Recalling the day he received the news, Du Toit got choked up, which had an effect on Henri.
Du Toit said while at the scene, he had introduced himself, but nobody had spoken to him and informed him about the whereabouts of Henri or Marli.
Du Toit said that after his wife Sonya arrived at the scene around 1pm they went to Stellenbosch Mediclinic, but were informed that Marli was being transported to Vergelegen Mediclinic as there were more skilled doctors there. The couple then went to the police station to find Henri, but they were not allowed to see him.
Du Toit then went to the Reade-Jahn household, and it was there that he ran into Henri when he arrived with Marli’s ex-boyfriend, James Reade-Jahn, and his father, along with another friend of Henri’s.
Du Toit said they had a very emotional reunion with Henri when he arrived dressed in boardshorts, a T-shirt and slippers.
He said that everyone was crying and that there was not a lot of talking.
“We didn’t talk a lot. We know when he speaks fast, he stutters.”
He also revealed that Henri had opted to stay at the Reade-Jahns because he wanted to be close to where Marli was. Court was adjourned to allow lawyers to prepare closing arguments for the trial-within-a-trial.