South Africa - Martin, 55, Theresa, 54, Rudi van Breda, 22, murdered, 26 Jan 2015 #1

[PrimeSuspect]

Anthony Molyneaux‏ @AJGMolyneaux 6m6 minutes ago @TimesLIVE

Botha now asks is there was any resemblance between Marli's hair and Henri's hair? Stewart says there was no resemblance.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Botha says Marli was examinied by one Dr Potgieter, who also gave a written statement of forensic samples which he took and gave to WO Appolis. He said he had collected nail scrapings and cuttings and sealed it in a kit.

Seperate handwritten notes says hair was also placed in bag. WO Nel says on 29 Jan she recieved the kit with fingernail cutting and left fingernail swab and right fingernail swab. She didn't make any reference to any hairs.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

 

[Tortoise]

let's hope it's all making sense in court.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

let's hope it's all making sense in court.

That's what I hope too. Judge Desai is keeping up with it all and making comments relevant to what's being said so far. Such a breath of fresh air after Judge Masipa.

 

[Tortoise]

I wonder if the pictures of Marli's hands were taken by the first officer who responded before the paramedics. If so, a job well done without a specialist camera.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Stuart says he didn't receive an exhibit marked AA (of the hair).

Botha says Appolis refers to the examination on the 27 Jan at Stellenbosch Mediclinic - both hands were bloody and one hair was found.

Stuart says he found six hairs in exhibit I.

Botha says it would be difficult to mistake six hairs for one.

Refers to photo of Marli's right hand clutching a long blonde hair.

Longer than 10cms, Botha asks?

Stuart agrees

Hair starts between middle and ring finger, curls around her forefinger, eventually going across her palm.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

 

[Tortoise]

That's what I hope too. Judge Desai is keeping up with it all and making comments relevant to what's being said so far. Such a breath of fresh air after Judge Masipa.

I'm still very nervous about this. I hope it's not just for show.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Anthony Molyneaux‏ @AJGMolyneaux 3m3 minutes ago @TimesLIVE


now looking at hands of Marli after incident. Botha is showing images of long blonde hair in both hands to court & witness. Judge agrees that there are 2 long (More than 10cms) blonde hair strands in both Marli's hands.

Botha shows photo of Henri at time of incident.Henri's hair was no longer than 3cms.Hairs in Marli's hands were longer than 10cms.
Stewart agrees that the hairs in the photograph do not look like Henri's hair but microscopically could be different.

 

[JudgeJudi]

In his report, Stuart says the length of the hairs in exhibit I are 200mm and longer.

Exhibit HH3 - photo of Henri the morning of the incident. His hair was 30mm at most, Botha says.

Seven weeks later, his hair was between 50 and 80mm

What are the chances of those hairs coming from the head of my client on that day? Botha asks Stuart. Chances are slim, Stuart says.

The chances, with respect are nil, Adv Botha responds. Yes, Stuart says.

Hair found on Marli's panty and t-shirt are longer, Botha says. Yes, says Stuart.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

 

[JudgeJudi]

Macroscopic findings are subjective, but are peer-reviewed, Stuart says

Hair was also treated - could be dyed. This is Marli's sample.

Sample taken two-and-a-half months after the murders.

Case adjourned until tomorrow when cross-examination will continue.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Talk about a twist, now the strands of hair are too long to have been HvBs. Maybe, they're Teresa's hair or Marli's?

 

[Interested Bystander]

If Henri's hair was only 30 mm at the longest point it would be a very short haircut indeed, shorter than in any photo of him I have seen. It will be interesting to have absolute confirmation that the photo was taken at that time. If it was, it is going to create a large problem BUT Henri said the intruders were black. I wouldn't mind betting there is some skulduggery going on somewhere. Possibly Henri rushed out and got a haircut before he was interviewed by the police. I believe he went to the hospital first. I wonder whether anyone remembers anything about him? Would there have been photos taken at the hospital of his so called injuries.

 

[Tortoise]

Thank you for the updates, JJ, Prime, Estelle, and anyone else I may have missed, very much appreciated!

 

[Interested Bystander]

In his report, Stuart says the length of the hairs in exhibit I are 200mm and longer.

Exhibit HH3 - photo of Henri the morning of the incident. His hair was 30mm at most, Botha says.

Seven weeks later, his hair was between 50 and 80mm

What are the chances of those hairs coming from the head of my client on that day? Botha asks Stuart. Chances are slim, Stuart says.

The chances, with respect are nil, Adv Botha responds. Yes, Stuart says.

Hair found on Marli's panty and t-shirt are longer, Botha says. Yes, says Stuart.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

BIB

If his hair was no longer than 30 mm at the time of the photo, his hair could not possibly be 80mm 7 weeks later. It may have been 50mm but 80mm is ridiculous. What is says is that Botha is lying about HVB's hair being 30 mm at most. Hair grows at roughly half a mm a day so we could be talking 25mm of growth at most. 25mm might be acceptable at 7 weeks but not 50mm. That would take 100 days of growth. Somebody is definitely lying.

However to stretch the hair length to 200mm would be impossible. I bet Botha is laughing up his sleeve. I hope the Prosecution are going to be able to refute this point.

 

[JudgeJudi]

A large part of skull had been shaved for ops. Could disinfectant have given this appearance, Botha asks? Stuart says that is a possibility.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

 

[Interested Bystander]

Fingers crossed the nail clippings come up trumps.

 

[Tortoise]

I don't get why they're having to guess the length of the hair in Marli's hand. Haven't they got measuring tapes? It all seems so unprofessional. Why did they only measure Henri's hair 7 weeks after the event? Jeeeez. Then we'll get all this again with the nail clippings, I am sure. It's as if they set themselves up for humiliation.

 

[Interested Bystander]

They could settle the argument very quickly if they have a root but I am unsure how many might be needed or whether one will do. DNA could be extracted.

An interesting article on how hair is DNA tested and some of the complications.

Challenges in DNA Testing and Forensic Analysis of Hair Samples

http://www.forensicmag.com/article/2013/04/challenges-dna-testing-and-forensic-analysis-hair-samples

 

[ApplesInMyBra]

This is where Sasha comes in!

Who is Sasha?

 

[ApplesInMyBra]

A large part of skull had been shaved for ops. Could disinfectant have given this appearance, Botha asks? Stuart says that is a possibility.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...ay-11-20170515

Whose skull? (your link doesn't work)