Axeman attacked his family, killing three

A SOUTH AFRICAN man was found guilty yesterday of killing his wealthy parents and his brother while seriously injuring his sister during a frenzied axe attack at their home on an exclusive golf estate.

Henri van Breda, 23, had denied murdering brother Rudi, 21, and parents Martin, 54, and Teresa, 55, and leaving his sister Marli with near-fatal injuries to her head, neck and throat.

During the trial, Van Breda told the court that in January 2015 a late-night intruder had entered the family’s luxury residence on the highly guarded De Zalze Golf Estate in Stellenbosch, outside Cape Town.

However, Judge Siraj Desai systematically took apart the defence case in a five-hour summary of evidence – and then delivered a verdict that he said “as a family man, it’s difficult” to read out.

“After considering all the evidence, the result is inescapable,” Mr Desai said, finding Van Breda guilty on three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, as well as of obstructing justice.

“That the accused was the perpetrator of the crime is the only reasonable conclusion,” he said. “No evidence of a typical house robbery or break-in is evident. Four of five members of the family found brutally attacked in similar fashion and left for dead...the accused was left standing, having lived through the events.”

Van Breda showed little emotion, saying only “I do” to confirm that he understood that he was being held in custody until sentencing on June 5.