SHE LOVES TO DANCE AND TAKE SELFIES – FRIENDS RECALL FUN-LOVING MARLI VAN BREDA
STELLENBOSCH AXE VICTIM RECOVERS
LImurders, my son revealed that Rudi had told him in 2013, ‘I’m worried my brother is on something’,” she says. She doesn’t know what the “something” was. “Teresa never referred to Henri’s suspected drug use – she would have wanted to protect her child at all costs; She was mad about her children. She and Martin would have wanted to keep anything like that from their friends.”
Ben Rootman, family spokesman, refuses to comment on speculation that Henri – the only person who escaped relatively unscathed – was a drug user. Even after the Sunday Times newspaper reported Henri had been admitted to a clinic in Bellville, Cape Town, he wouldn’t be drawn.
“We’re not going to comment on speculation and can’t confirm whether Henri was admitted to the Tijger Clinic,” he tells YOU. The clinic treats patients suffering from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as addictions to alcohol and drugs.
But Rootman did confirm the family had hired a legal team for Henri. They’ve appointed advocate Piet Botha, who was on the team that successfully defended Bristol businessman Shrien Dewani in his murder
The sociable teen doesn’t deserve this, says a friend of the Van Breda family who prefers not to be named. “Marli is a lovely, beautiful girl who has lots of friends,” she says. “My children are mad about her.”
Her friends are clearly crazy about her too and pals in Australia, where she lived for seven years with her family before they returned to South Africa last year, were horrified when they heard the news.
“Marli is an intelligent and fun girl,” says Shilo Read, one of her friends in Perth. “She likes to dance.”
Shilo visited the Van Bredas often and describes them as a “fun-loving, happy family”.
“Every time I was over they were smiling and happy – I’d never seen them argue or anything.” IKE many modern teenage girls she loves to take selfies. She loves to spend time with her friends, bond with her family and boyfriend, go to the beach and have sleepovers. She’s a fan of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift and likes films such as 21 Jump Street and the Scream series.
By all accounts Marli van Breda is a typical teen with plenty of people who adore her. And she seems to feel the same – on her Instagram account one of her statuses says, “Loving all of life,” with two hearts and a happy emoticon.
It’s unlikely the 16-year-old will be the same bubbly young woman again after the injuries inflicted on her skull and jugular vein with an axe. About two weeks after the attack in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, in which her parents, Martin (54) and Teresa (55), and eldest brother, Rudi (22), were killed and her other brother, Henri (20), escaped with minor injuries, Marli is still in hospital with no one confirming whether she’ll recover from the injuries.
Her condition – like everything else in the case – is unclear. According to one report her jaw is so damaged she can’t speak. But another says she can answer simple questions such as “Who are you?” and “What year is it?” as well as blink in response to questions. T’S true the family were close, says a friend who’s known the Van Bredas for more than 30 years. “They were lovely. There was never any friction. Teresa and Martin were strict parents but they never raised their voices.” If there was a hint of discord, Teresa and Martin never spoke of it. “After we’d heard about the murder of Teresa, Martin and Rudi
trial, and Lorinda van Niekerk of Cluver Markotter Attorneys.
Henri hasn’t been seen in public since the attack and appeared to be absent from the memorial service held for his slain family members. But his uncle André van Breda, one of Martin’s brothers, says his nephew was indeed at the service in Pretoria.
Henri is heartbroken, André says. “We as a family are here for him. We won’t drop him.”
He has nothing but praise for doctors at the hospital where Marli is being treated. “What the doctors and nurses have done is a miracle. Her movements are getting better. Nurses have put up pictures of the family on various holidays and are showering her with love.
Mmuch they love each other.
One of Marli’s Australian friends, whose parents prefer her not to be named, recalls how much Marli loved sleepovers and going to the beach. “She’s a spontaneous girl with a great sense of humour.”
One of the last times she saw Marli they went to the beach where they took videos of each other, she adds. Marli was a learner at the Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) in
” ARLI is the kind of girl who never has a problem making friends, family friend Alex Boshoff says. His sister, Mia, and Marli became bosom buddies when their families holidayed together at Thesen Islands in Knysna. “My sister stayed home most of the time and didn’t make friends on the island [before she met Marli],” he says.
Their social media accounts show a friendship that blossomed, with pictures of them swimming, flirting with the camera and taking plenty of selfies. They also often said how Melbourne at the time. In 2013 the family moved to Buderim where she attended Matthew Flinders Anglican College before they returned to SA.
PLC classmate Phoebe Metcalf, who played hockey with Marli, says her friend loves to dress up. She’s also quite social and played netball for the school, Phoebe adds.
Marli’s new classmates at Somerset College in Somerset West clearly adore her too. In the past week principal Meg Fargher disclosed in the school’s newsletter she’s been inundated by letters of support for Marli. “And the outpouring of goodness should sustain us all at this time,” she wrote.
Nobody knows what the future holds for the young woman and if she’ll return to the school. Her emotional state is reportedly fragile, which is why she’s not being questioned by police.
“Marli is the dearest thing,” the close family friend says. “Rudi was the extrovert who immediately crept into your heart. Henri is quieter, a loner. He was a typical boy – he loved playing with toy cars and taking things apart. Rudi and Marli played more prominent roles in the family.”
At the time of going to print no one had yet been arrested or taken in for questioning in connection with the case.