South Africa - Martin, 55, Theresa, 54, Rudi van Breda, 22, murdered, 26 Jan 2015 #2

[JudgeJudi]

But he said he never touched the bodies.

Para. 10 of his initial statement

I did not touch anybody of my family in the house the time the person assaulted my family with the axe.

 

[Tortoise]

At least he photographed his errors, didn't try to hide them.

That's the best I can say for him. He seems honest, just sloppy and forgetful.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: how did you place the collection number from 113 on the one for 117. H- it could have been a typing error

B: again 113 no photographs? H correct

B: we know u weren't the evidence collector but you also placed incorrect address you wrote 13 Goske Street should be 12

H yes thats mistake. Judge Desai asks what it should be as even he has forgotten the correct address

 

[Tortoise]

Para. 10 of his initial statement

I did not touch anybody of my family in the house the time the person assaulted my family with the axe.

Sorry JJ, I'm not doubting that's what he said. But do you believe he wouldn't have had their blood all over him?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B now hands up extractions of copies of notes that came out of H's docket

12 pages extracted from his docket its hand written notes H confirms it is his handwriting

B: u will see on page 2 you have a 117 and 118 you scratched it out. Does that help you remember how change made?

H: sometimes 2 numbers are allocated but only one box is actually used but 2 numbers have been filled in- thats possible

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: there were a number of exhibits marked S1-S38, they are a series of photos. S refers to shoe print? H correct

B: when u took photos who identified prints as being "shoe prints" on the scene?

B: refers to photos where he has gone through the house and taken photos of shoe prints - H confirming he took these

B: did anybody help you identify these as shoe prints? H - Hanekom

B- did Captain van der westerhuizen help you indemnify these as shoe prints? H- no, after we had left he went through the scene

H- VDW was physically on the scene after we left the scene

H: on 6/2 we were on the scene and Captain VDW and Joubert, Steyn and myself were on the scene

B:so is that the first time that you have a note that Captain van der Westerhuizen was on the scene? H- he was there on 27 Jan

H: I think he did his assessments on the 6 February

 

[JudgeJudi]

Evidence collection kit number was originally linked to exhibit 113, now on exhibit 117.

Hitchcock says this could be a typing error.

Wrong address in one of his reports. 13 Goske Street - it should read 12 Goske Street. He wrote it incorrectly, Hitchcock says.

He was at the scene when we had gone through everything, with the identifcation of the shoe prints.

Did anyone help you?

Officer Hanekom, Hitchcock says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

 

[JudgeJudi]

Sorry JJ, I'm not doubting that's what he said. But do you believe he wouldn't have had their blood all over him?

Hahaha, absolutely ... dripping in it.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Did Captain van der Westhuizem help you identify them?

He worked with it afterward.

He was at the scene when we had gone through everything, with the identifcation of the shoe prints.

16 Febuary 2015 at 11:04 we arrived at the scene and Captain van der Westhuizen was among those with us.

He was there at the scene on the day of the murders. He was outside with the CSI van, outside the cordon.

You were confident that these were show prints? Yes, Hitchcock says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: Do u agree some aren't as obviously shoe prints as others? For example A285

H: It looks like shoe print according to the type of pattern. B were you happy that the 38 photos u took were of shoe prints?H-yes

Judge Desai did you discuss it with your collegue and decide together it was a shoe print? H- correct

B: part of your training you do a course in investigating crime scenes? H yes - SAP trains us on crime scene invest.

B: refers to photo of shoe print on the scene-S30.

B: can u remember if Constable Matu was on the scene the day you were there? H thats correct

B he was the original investigating officer. He is now deceased he was in an accident

B the day he was there, he was in private clothes, he is an investigator? H - thats correct, H didnt know he passed away

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B:S33 we see marked on the orange cone and same with S34 identified as shoe prints- H thats correct

B: we know now that the en suite bathroom where Rudi and martin found swabs were taken. Did you take any swabs in other bathrooms?

H: We didnt take swabs in other bathrooms or showers

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B refers to photos of the axe, on left side exhibit which is described as presumable blood? where on the axe did you test?

H we tested for blood on the sharp side of the blade. B hands up photo of the axe

B but on exhibit 44 you wrote " touch DNA" so its not blood that was collected here? H - it appears not

Adv B: refers to H's notes now where he has written 44 and "touch" - H confirms.B page on to multi colored notes

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

H says those are the points that I am marking and describing this is my hand writing

B: look what you wrote in your handwriting at 44? H: presumable blood on axe on stairs

B: so what did you collect? Touch DNA or presumable blood?

 

[JudgeJudi]

Botha says in the bathroom (en-suite) there were swabs taken.

Did you take any swabs in the other bathrooms in the house? No, Hitchcock says.

Two photos of the axe. Tested for blood on the sharp end of the head, Hitchcock says.

He indicated he had tested for touch DNA. Not blood.????

Botha refers Hitchcock to points he wrote out and noted. He had written that it was presumable blood on axe on floor.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

H In my notes to the lab I said presumable touch DNA

B so we can accept that 44 isn't blood it is touch DNA - H correct

B: 3rd line from the top, possible touch DNA from axe on stairs - H yes that is correct

H the piece of evidence (axe) I sent to the lab but the touch DNA I did there on the scene

H: axe was sealed and went to worcester offices for finger prints

 

[JudgeJudi]

He says in his letter to the lab he had written he had collected possible touch DNA.

Botha says it can be accepted that he had collected touch DNA, not blood. Yes, Hitchcock says.

Botha says it looks like the axe appeared to be the weapon. Why not swab the blood?

Hitchcock says he sent the axe to the lab, but noted the touch DNA.

Was it tested? Botha asks. Hitchcock refers to pic 547 to 550. These are the swabs he took while at Worcester.

So you sent it to the lab, then to your roffice in Worcester for fingerprints? Yes, Hitchcock says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B is this correct? On the scene axe is taken packed and marked as exhibit 6? and sent to Worcester for finger prints

H: photos are 1st taken and its marked by me as a certain exhibit I marked it as .44 the exhibit numbers of finger prints different

H in Worcester it is marked a different exhibit in reference to Finger Prints only

B but exhibit 44 you said is touch DNA? From the Axe H- yes thats correct

B: you then said you took blood swabs from the axe? H correct

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: Where is the evidence of these blood swabs? H reads these exhibit numbers

B: somewhere here you have taken a blood swab but you aren't completely certain where? H correct

B: referring to another few blood spots - do u again say you took somewhere from there but you can't say precisely where?H Correct

B: we saw axe photos and there is a lot of blood on the blade? H correct.

Now u say you took a swab on the blade but can't say precisely where, when you took it did you take it from one place or did you run the swab through blood or did you just touch the blood when taking sample? H can't remember

(this can't be good)

 

[JudgeJudi]

Sent to Worcester for fingerprints, and he also did the blood swabs.

On the wooden section there is a variety of spatters, not necessarily from one person. When you took the swab, did you only take of one drop ar a swab across that section?

Hitchcock can't say where specifically where he took the swab.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-24-20170607

I sit here in a state of some anxiety when Botha is on the attack.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

So Botha's beef is where precisely on the blade of the axe the swab was taken?