Cape Town - Family murder accused Henri van Breda was granted bail of R100 000 in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court after a brief appearance on Tuesday.
On Monday, a year and a half after his family was brutally murdered in an apparent attack with an axe, 21-year-old Henri handed himself over to the police. He arrived at the Stellenbosch police station with his attorney Lorinda van Niekerk.
On Tuesday morning, Courtroom A was tense with anticipation before Van Breda’s appearance for the murder of his parents and older brother as well as the attempted murder of his sister – who might hold the key to unlocking what happened in the De Zalze estate last January.
Marli van Breda, Henri’s sister, survived the axe attack in which their millionaire businessman father, Martin, 55, and mother, Teresa, 54, and older brother, Rudi, 22, were killed last January.
Marli, who was 16 at the time, was left for dead with a severed jugular vein and severe head injuries.
She suffered retrograde amnesia and did not remember the attack.
She was released into the care of relatives and later returned to school.
Henri escaped the attack with minor cuts and bruises and was the one who placed the call to police after the murders.
The siblings were reunited five months after the attack.
There was a strong media presence in court, with representatives of the National Prosecuting Authority also present.
Henri’s uncle, Andre du Toit, was seated in the front row of the courtroom.
On Monday the family’s spokesman, Ben Rootman, confirmed that Henri was arrested and said the family issued a statement noting the arrest.
“The Van Breda family takes note of the arrest of Henri van Breda and all inquiries are directed to the police.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that a 21-year-old suspect had been arrested in connection with the triple murder.
“Our investigation into the three murders and an attempted murder which were perpetrated on the De Zalze estate during January 2015 led to the arrest of a 21-year-old suspect this afternoon when he handed himself over to the Stellenbosch police.
“The suspect is due to make a court appearance today in Stellenbosch to face three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.”
The docket has gone back and forth between the prosecuting officials and the police for months and investigators on the case were told to dig deeper.
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Cape Argus and IOL