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

[JudgeJudi]

Hi Prime. Yes, I too have a bad feeling about this one. A delay of 18 months in charging Henri seems extraordinary in the circumstances. If he committed this atrocity, perhaps he'd been using ice (crystal meth). A blood test would have revealed if that was the case, however I've read that he didn't have one! There has already been speculation that he was an ice addict and that he had been in both rehab and a psychiatric clinic, but of course the family has denied this.

As Marli has retrograde amnesia, I can't see how she can assist the State. It seems more than a little strange that the State didn't oppose bail if they truly believe they have a watertight case. We're talking three brutal murders here and nearly a fourth. At this stage I'm speculating that Marli was asleep when her parents were murdered and didn't hear anything. She may have been attacked hours later and hence the reason why she survived.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Just a reminder ... Henri's trial starts this coming Monday, 27 March. Here's the latest link for anyone looking in for the first time.

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/former-perth-schoolboy-to-face-murder-trial-in-sa-ng-b88425176z

 

[wendybtn]

Axe family tries to get on with life
"Asked about progress in the case on Friday, police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said the investigation into the murders was continuing. “There are no new developments to report,” he said." :gaah:

"Du Toit, Teresa van Breda’s sister, was quoted in the magazine saying she had been horrified when she read speculative media reports that Henri had been behind the attack.

“He’s a lovely child who could never do something like that. You know when a child has done something wrong. You can see it in his eyes or body language but with Henri there was nothing." "
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/axe-family-tries-to-get-on-with-life-1.1904105#.VfRBCxGqpBc

:banghead:

I was under the impression that seeing nothing in a person's eyes was possibly indicative of a sociopath!?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

He was painted as a suspect from the start, but it took police almost a year-and-a-half to arrest Henri van Breda and charge him with the murder of his parents and brother.
.......
He was 20 at the time of the murders. He suffered only superficial injuries, which include knife wounds. According to the State, it has expert medical opinion that the wounds were self-inflicted.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/all-you-need-to-know-van-breda-profiles-20170326

 

[possumheart]

The latest charge mirrors reports that Van Breda had a history of using drugs which had put him in conflict with his parents. A teenager living in a shack near the family’s luxury winelands home told South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper how he had been paid as a “drug runner” by Van Breda who was addicted to crystal meth.
Another newspaper report suggested Van Breda had spent time in rehab in recent years and had had his allowance cut by his concerned parents in the weeks leading up to their murder.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/henri-van-bredas-axe-murder-trial-begins-will-his-surviving-sister-give-evidence/news-story/076c2ddbfd6a3396b5052df6b0ae7ed1

 

[PrimeSuspect]

On Friday, several journalists and media organisations made applications to broadcast inside the courtroom to Judge Siraj Desai, who will preside over proceedings.
....
If the permission to broadcast the trial from inside the courtroom is granted, it will be one of a few proceedings in South Africa to have been aired - the likes of the murder case of Olympian Oscar Pistorius, who was found guilty of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
....
In a different matter, Van Breda and his girlfriend are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on April 11 on charges of drug possession. He is out on R1 000 bail for this charge.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/van-breda-murder-trial-to-be-live-streamed-8349286

Lets hope Judge Siraj Desai agrees to the trial being broadcast. It will be interesting to note the similarities or differences to the way this investigation and trial is handled compared to OPs.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EWN Reporter‏Verified account @ewnreporter 36m36 minutes ago
More
#VanBreda Triple murder case against Henri v Breda is expected to draw intense scrutiny - it starts in WC High Court today @Giovanna_Gerbi

#VanBreda 22-year-old Henri v Breda is accused of axing to death his father Martin, his mother Teresa and his brother in January 2015. GG

#VanBreda Along with the 3 murder charges, he faces an additional charge of attempted murder for severely injuring his sister Marli. GG

#VanBreda A charge of defeating the ends of justice has also been brought against Van Breda for allegedly tampering with the crime scene. GG

#VanBreda DPP in the Western Cape has stated it wants a media application to live broadcast Henri Van Breda's trial - to be dismissed. GG

 

[PrimeSuspect]

News24‏Verified account @News24 2m2 minutes ago

#VanBreda trial to start 2 years after axe murders
http://trib.al/5ct0yTf

EWN Reporter‏Verified account @ewnreporter 3m3 minutes ago

#VanBreda In the affidavit the DPP in the Western Cape states he's concerned about live broadcasting the trial. GG

EWN Reporter‏Verified account @ewnreporter 4m4 minutes ago

#VanBreda DPP says the witnesses have objections to cameras being in court & witnesses voiced fears having their photographs published. GG

 

[PrimeSuspect]

#VanBreda Media application for live-streaming the trial claims it's in the public interest to broadcast court proceedings as it unfolds GG

#VanBreda
Media application motivates freedom of expression lies at the heart of a democracy. GG

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Cape Town - Two seasoned advocates will on Monday face off in the Western Cape High Court when Henri van Breda goes on trial for the triple murder of his parents and brother and the attempted murder of his sister.

State

Susan Galloway is a seasoned State advocate with 25 years’ experience.

Her high-profile cases have included the conviction of taxi driver Jacob Humphreys. He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for killing 10 children when a train struck his minibus at the Buttskop level crossing, Blackheath, in 2010.

The Supreme Court of Appeal later reduced the conviction to culpable homicide and he received a sentence of in effect eight years.

Megan Blows has 14 years’ experience as a State advocate.

In 2003, she helped ensure the conviction of Alberto Saunders on two counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to five years in jail for attacking two people with a baseball bat in a fit of road rage in 2002.


Defence

Pieter Botha has been an advocate for 29 years.

He is best known for helping advocate Francois van Zyl defend British businessman Shrien Dewani, who was accused of killing his wife Anni while they were on honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010.

Botha’s booming voice and line of questioning during cross-examination were hard for some State experts to ignore. In 2014, Dewani was discharged on a count of murder by the Western Cape High Court.

Lawyer Lorinda van Niekerk is a director at Cluver Markotter in Stellenbosch.

She made the news in September, when a copy of a police docket on the Van Breda family murders was stolen from her car in Green Point, shortly before Henri was to make a pre-trial appearance in the Western Cape High Court.

She told News24 that a laptop and the two bags were stolen out of her car's boot. The thieves left behind her cellphone and wallet.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/courtroom-veterans-to-face-off-in-van-breda-trial-20170327

 

[JudgeJudi]

Hi everyone. It's been a long time getting here but finally we have Day 1. Thanks PrimeSuspect for today's updates. It seems as if there's still a possibility of livestreaming. Everyone wants it except prosecution and defence. The witnesses don't want to be seen ... well, just as in the Oscar Pistorius trial, the judge can make a ruling that we hear them but don't see them. I can live with that.

Here's another link for live tweets.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/vanbreda?lang=en

Tammy Petersen‏ @TammyPetersen87 · 5m5 minutes ago
Judge Siraj Desai will at 10:00 give his decision on application by Media24 to livestream #VanBreda trial. Trial expected to start at 11:30.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

angelapownall‏Verified account @angelapownall 1m1 minute ago

Trial of former Perth schoolboy accused of brutal axe murder of his parents and brother is about to begin in Cape Town #vanBreda

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Good news, Judge Siraj Desai gave permission for broadcast! But added he could change his mind. I hope everyone behaves and this won't affect the outcome in any way. :crossfingers:

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 26m26 minutes ago

#DeZalze #eNCA The State alleges this is an act of premeditated murder that deserves a life sentence

#DeZalze #eNCA Senior defence counsel, Pieter Botha appears for van Breda.

Aarti Narsee‏ @ajnarsee 12m12 minutes ago

Judge Desai: I've given this matter "careful consideration". This order is not cast in stone #eNCA #VanBreda

Judge Desai: media 24 can take stills before and after court and can record Court proceedings #eNCA #VanBreda

Judge Desai: restrictions include no footage or photo of Marli van Breda,

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 11m11 minutes ago

#DeZalza #eNCA During sitting of court, two video cameras to allowed record/ broadcast

Absolute bar on audio recordings and close-ups of the judge or counsel

No exhibits to be filmed or photographed unless such
permission is granted

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 8m8 minutes ago

#DeZalza #eNCA requests the matter stands for counsel to discuss their position on the order. Desai says there have been too many delays

Aarti Narsee‏ @ajnarsee 11m11 minutes ago

Judge Desai says that he could change this order at any stage if parties feel trial is being jeopardized #eNCA #VanBreda

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 8m8 minutes ago

#DeZalza #eNCA Botha says he played no part in this and cannot take an informed position. he says he hasn't taken instructions & needs time

Botha says there's an agreement btw the State and Defence to start the matter after the lunch break, at 14:15

Desai says he's given this matter very careful consideration

 

[L2L]

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 26m26 minutes ago

#DeZalze #eNCA The State alleges this is an act of premeditated murder that deserves a life sentence

#DeZalze #eNCA Senior defence counsel, Pieter Botha appears for van Breda.

Aarti Narsee‏ @ajnarsee 12m12 minutes ago

Judge Desai: I've given this matter "careful consideration". This order is not cast in stone #eNCA #VanBreda

Judge Desai: media 24 can take stills before and after court and can record Court proceedings #eNCA #VanBreda

Judge Desai: restrictions include no footage or photo of Marli van Breda,

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 11m11 minutes ago

#DeZalza #eNCA During sitting of court, two video cameras to allowed record/ broadcast

Absolute bar on audio recordings and close-ups of the judge or counsel

No exhibits to be filmed or photographed unless such
permission is granted

Do we have a channel on which to view proceedings yet?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Leigh-Anne Jansen‏Verified account @LA_JANSEN 28m28 minutes ago

#DeZalze #eNCA Senior Counsel Susan Galloway prosecuting. She's accompanied by WC Director or Public Prosecutions, Rodney de Kock

Order: 15 mins before commencement of court and after adjournment media may take still images and video footage.

Judge Siraj Desai to rule on media applications to gain camera access inside court

Henri faces 3 counts of murder & 1 of attempted murder for the assault on his sister, Marli

Botha requests that the matter regarding this order stands down until 11:30 so he can consult his client

Desai obliges but says this is going to be a long trial and wants to get it done asap

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Do we have a channel on which to view proceedings yet?

Hopefully soon L2L.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Aarti Narsee‏ @ajnarsee 10m10 minutes ago

There is a request for the matter to stand down till 14:15. Judge Desai says he will only adjourn today #VanBreda #eNCA

Piet Botha on behalf of Henri van Breda raises concern, the media coverage issue will be heard at 11:15
#eNCA #VanBreda

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I assume if HvB takes the stand, he can ask for audio only. Botha wants more time to discuss order with his client. I hope there won't be frequent delays during this trial like OPs.