Stellenbosch police sergeant Adrian Kleynhans, who has been in the service for 22 years, has taken the witness stand.
Kleynhans, who was the first policeman on scene, says he received a complaint about a fight and a possible crime scene at the security estate.
But he says that he and his colleagues had been given a different address and were blocked from entering the premises by the estate's private security.
He adds they had to first get permission from the De Zalze Estate management despite driving an official police van.
He explained the front door of the home was ajar as he approached with his pistol, angled at 45 degrees towards the ground.
Kleynhans says an emotional Henri, wearing white socks and covered in blood walked towards him from the inside.
He then found the body of Theresa and an injured Marli on the first floor.
The sergeant also mentioned he discovered items including a laptop and a handbag containing money at the scene, that would likely have been taken if a burglary took place. Proceedings have been postponed until Tuesday.
http://ewn.co.za/2017/04/24/first-witness-takes-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial
Kleynhans said Van Breda had smelled of alcohol.
The police officer had found no evidence of forced entry, but also no evidence that someone had cleaned the crime scene.
He said nothing had looked out of place on the bottom level of the house. A laptop and handbag, with cash still in the wallet, were on the table.
Kleynhans said he had seen one of the women moving a leg and told his superior to contact paramedics. After they arrived, the scene had been cordoned off.
White walls of 1.3 metres high surrounded the house, but none had had scuff marks on them. Kleynhans said a black gate with a key in it, which would have been used by the intruders to exit the property, had been closed.
He had also seen emergency numbers stuck on the fridge. The axe and the knife used in the attack had been shown to him. While he recognised the axe, he said he did not recognise the knife.
Judge Siraj Desai described the axe as one used for chopping wood, about half a metre in length.
Kleynhans is expected to finish his evidence-in-chief on Wednesday.
https://www.enca.com/south-africa/i...reath-first-officer-on-van-breda-murder-scene