Van Breda axe not the throwing kind
THE axe used in the Van Breda murders came into sharp focus during testimony from a ballistics expert.
Captain Candice Brown, an expert from the Ballistics unit at the Forensics Science Laboratory in Plattekloof, gave evidence in the trial of Henri van Breda, accused of the murder of his parents and brother and attempted murder of his sister with an axe in January 2015.
Brown was asked to look at the knife and axe used as weapons in the case, and how they fit into the crime scene.
She gave evidence on how she was called to De Zalze estate on January 28, 2015, when she collected samples and evidence from the murder scene.
Brown was specifically questioned by State lawyer Susan Galloway regarding one of the marks in the entrance doorway, and how the axe fitted into the scene.
Brown said in her first report of the scene that she noted “one impact mark with damage consistent with that caused by a controlled, sharp-edged tool movement, into the right-hand side edge, adjacent to the front entrance doorway”.
One of the reasons this was highlighted was because Gallo- way had used the opportunity to question the witness about Henri’s plea explanation, in which he had stated that he threw the axe at the attacker as he was trying to escape from the house.
Galloway asked if it was possible for the axe to have made the impact on the entryway wall as Henri said happened.
Brown responded by saying that the axe used in the murders was not a throwing axe.
There was a 1 in 4 chance that the axe could have impacted the wall on the sharp edge, Brown testified.
When Galloway asked how likely this was, Brown added: “Possible, but highly unlikely.”
In her testimony, Brown noted that the axe also had marks on it, mentioning a nick on the top of the blade which curved to one side.
She also found scrapings on the axe head, and noticed chip marks on the butt of the axe.
Earlier in her testimony, she explained what “controlled” and “uncontrolled” impact marks were – terms used in her report.
She said controlled had “certainty of direction”, while “uncontrolled” referred to free marks with no certainty of direction and no restraints.
Defence advocate Pieter Botha said he would cross-examine Brown about this, but asked that she stand down to allow for his forensic expert to be present.
Judge Desai allowed this. He informed the court that the trial would soon be on hold until August as the court term would shortly come to an end.
Brown will continue giving evidence under cross-examination in the court today.