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

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Anthony Molyneaux‏ @AJGMolyneaux 5m5 minutes ago

Botha is now implying that Henri is a strong man,swam,played rugby, this could have been reason why attacker ran away.

@TimesLIVE

https://twitter.com/Traceyams
Tracey Stewart‏ @Traceyams 7m7 minutes ago @CapeTownEtc

B: what is the likelihood of attacker running away because Henri was stronger ? D: its possible but unlikely

(Warning, we're entering the Twilight Zone!)



Anthony Molyneaux‏ @AJGMolyneaux 2m

Botha is done with x-examination. Dempers proves to be a good witness for the state.

 

[JudgeJudi]

I wonder if he's related to OP's ex-girlfriend Leah Sky Malan.

 

[Tortoise]

So big strong athletic Henri comes out of hiding once this weakling has finished his slaying spree, no cares about defending his mum, disarms him and scares him away.

Give me a break.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Anthony Molyneaux‏ @AJGMolyneaux 3m3 minutes ago @TimesLIVE

Tomorrow's witnesses will be dealing with autopsy reports of deceased.
Court is discussing the trial within the trial, re Henris first statement, which will begin tomorrow afternoon.

court is adjourned until tomorrow morning. Bye bye ✌️ check in at 10am for an interesting day in court.

 

[JudgeJudi]

We will be back at 10am tomorrow, where the pathologist who did the autopsies is expected to testify.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-day-17-20170524

 

[LouP1209]

Thank you for the updates, much appreciated, :cheers:

 

[Tortoise]

Yes big thank you from me too!

 

[Interested Bystander]

Thank you for all the updates guys. I have been out for several hours and it is so good to come back to such good coverage. I haven't quite caught up yet.

What did you gather from Reggie's attendance? Was he there "to frighten the opposition" or is he the pathologist who did the autopsies?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Botha's losing people's respect I think, he's actually reversing the situation because the more he badgers these witnesses, it magnifies what the truth is, there were no intruders, HvB is the attacker and his superficial wounds are self-inflicted. It's not working a charm like with the police and security staff.

 

[Tortoise]

Thank you for all the updates guys. I have been out for several hours and it is so good to come back to such good coverage. I haven't quite caught up yet.

What did you gather from Reggie's attendance? Was he there "to frighten the opposition" or is he the pathologist who did the autopsies?

It seemed to me as if his only input may have been to prompt Botha to say it was very difficult to assess whether injuries were self-inflicted.

 

[Tortoise]

Botha's losing people's respect I think, he's actually reversing the situation because the more he badgers these witnesses, it magnifies what the truth is, there were no intruders, HvB is the attacker and his superficial wounds are self-inflicted. It's not working a charm like with the police and security staff.

That's what I think, but he has confidence at the same time. I do hope this isn't a fix.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Thank you for all the updates guys. I have been out for several hours and it is so good to come back to such good coverage. I haven't quite caught up yet.

What did you gather from Reggie's attendance? Was he there "to frighten the opposition" or is he the pathologist who did the autopsies?

I'd like to know too.

Also, newsflash, Botha says that one day Henri will tell us what happened. Idk, but I don't like sound of that.

 

[Tortoise]

I didn't see the benefit of this witness today, after the excellent doctor yesterday. Even the pig skin test wasn't worth it because it wasn't conclusive for the State and no one seems to know how deep the wound was.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Thank you for all the updates guys. I have been out for several hours and it is so good to come back to such good coverage. I haven't quite caught up yet.

What did you gather from Reggie's attendance? Was he there "to frighten the opposition" or is he the pathologist who did the autopsies?

I'm inclined to think Perumal will testify for the Defence.

 

[Tortoise]

So were these perhaps knife wounds on Rudi and Theresa's hands? It doesn't seem to fit or be possible. Unless he had one in each hand?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

So were these perhaps knife wounds on Rudi and Theresa's hands? It doesn't seem to fit or be possible. Unless he had one in each hand?

I agree, it doesn't seem possible, I imagine he attacked with the axe first. Maybe, while Rudi lay dying from his head wounds, HvB was attacking him with a knife and Rudi managed to raise his arms? Same for Theresa, she fended him off with her hands but died from the head wounds. I wonder if Marli had the same wounds on hands, fingers?

This really gives me the creeps, he's a brutal killer and meant to finish them all off, one way or another.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The State hasn’t closed its case yet so a State pathologist will be appearing tomorrow. Reggie Perumal is in private practice so he’ll be appearing for the Defence.

For those who didn’t follow the OP trial, here's a bit of info on Perumal:

He’s a forensic pathologist who has appeared in many high-profile cases in South Africa and was hired by the Pistorius team in time to attend Reeva’s autopsy. There were suggestions his post-mortem findings supported key parts of the prosecution's case.

Perumal's unusual decision not to testify attracted the attention of his fellow forensic pathologists. "I have heard that it might be because he refused to amend his version," said Steve Naidoo, a Durban-based private forensic pathologist. "If so, and if Dr Perumal is not willing to twist the truth, then it's to his tremendous credit."

http://www.scmp.com/news/world/arti...star-pathologist-refuses-testify-murder-trial

http://www.wcf.co.za/site/user_data/images/reggie.jpg

 

[Tortoise]

What are people's views on whether or not the State will win the argument to have his statement admitted into evidence?

Personally, I cant see how he could be considered a suspect before he had given his version to anyone. Furthermore, he wasn't detained or arrested.

There must be something damning in it.

 

[Tortoise]

Dr. Daphne Anthony, state pathologist, to testify on her autopsy report on axe murder victims, on Thursday

https://twitter.com/JulianJansen

 

[Interested Bystander]

What are people's views on whether or not the State will win the argument to have his statement admitted into evidence?

Personally, I cant see how he could be considered a suspect before he had given his version to anyone. Furthermore, he wasn't detained or arrested.

There must be something damning in it.

I don't have any legal knowledge but logically he was giving a witness statement and therefore would not have had his rights read to him (assuming in SA it is the same as the UK). It was a very long time until he was charged with murdering his family. He gave himself in on 13th June 2016 after hearing he was about to be arrested. I assume he was read his rights then. He was charged with murdering his family the next day at Stellenbosch Magistrates Court. I haven't been able to pin down anyone reading his rights before then. It seems he was free to come and go as he pleased.

The only information that might throw doubt on the situation is that he says the detectives stated at some stage that Marli had been given a special drug and was telling the police all about that evening. I don't know how true this is or whether it is another of HvB lies but it might be difficult to prove/disprove.