Van Breda wishes to testify – off camera

IT’S TRIPLE murder accused Henri van Breda’s wish to take the stand in the case of the murder of his family members, but not in front of cameras.

This is because he stutters, and sometimes mutters, particularly when under pressure. Van Breda has suffered from the speech impairment since a child, his legal representative, Pieter Botha, told Judge Siraj Desai yesterday.

Botha said he worried cameras in court would negatively affect his client’s testimony and put him at a disadvantage.

“If (Van Breda) does not answer immediately, or hesitates as a result of his speech, that could subconsciously impact on the court’s view of him, which might impact on the finding…

“His stutter worsens when he is under pressure or stressed. His demeanour in the witness box can’t be compromised,” Botha said.

Judge Desai said the request not to live stream Van Breda’s testimony was complex and unusual, since most of the trial was recorded.

He is expected to make a decision today.

Van Breda is on trial for the murder of three of his family members at the De Zalze Golf Estate in Stellenbosch in January 2015. His mother Teresa, 55, father Martin, 54, and brother Rudi, 22, were attacked and killed with an axe. His sister, Marli, 16 at the time, survived.

Van Breda has been charged with three counts of murder, one of attempted murder, and one of defeating the ends of justice, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

At the start of Van Breda’s defence Botha told the court his client would not testify. At the end of last week the State was told he would take the stand.

francesca.villette@inl.co.za