Judge’s ‘last word’ on Van Breda: no appeal

‘This case fits like a jigsaw puzzle.’

Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai took less than five minutes to refuse Henri van Breda’s application for leave to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Desai convicted the 23-yearold of the January 2015 triple axe murders of his parents and brother, the attempted murder of his sister and defeating the ends of justice.

He sentenced him to three life sentences, 145 years for attempted murder and one year for defeating the ends of justice. He ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Last week, after hearing the defence’s arguments in their bid for an appeal, Desai said one rarely gets a case against an accused as strong as this one.

“This case fits like a mosaic, pieces of a jigsaw puzzle … everything fits together.”

After considering defence lawyer Piet Botha’s arguments, Desai remained adamant that no compelling reasons had been advanced for an appeal to be heard.

Desaid said the state had established “conclusively” that Van Breda was responsible for the commission of the crimes.

He said a lesser sentence would not have been appropriate “in light of the heinous nature of the offences”. There was an absence of mitigating factors other than youthfulness and a lack of previous convictions. “Hopefully this is last word on the case,” he said.

But defence lawyer Piet Botha confirmed he will petition the Supreme Court of Appeal.

In his judgment, Desai described Van Breda as a “cold-blooded killer”. – ANA