South Africa - Martin, 55, Theresa, 54, Rudi van Breda, 22, murdered, 26 Jan 2015 #3

[JudgeJudi]

Sergeant Appollis takes to the witness box.

He is the investigating officer in the triple murders.

He is stationed at Stellenbosch SAPS, and has been a policeman for 14 years.
He is a detective.

He was part of a team that handled the case, along with Constable Matho (original investigating officer).

On the day of the incident, he was at the scene. He was briefed to handle everthing surrounding Marli at the Stellenbosch Mediclinic.

He spent most of the day at Stellenbosch Mediclinic until she was transferred to Vergelegen Mediclinic.


He was mostly responsible for cellphone records, assembling the docket.
He also looked at security of De Zalze.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...to-take-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial-20170816

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

G: Henri's statement to the police that day he described intruders what did you do to investigate that intruder

A: we followed up and found no information on a possible suspect as described by Henri

A: the houses in the estate are mostly double storey houses

G: who stays in the house on the left?

A: says neighbours name, his bedroom was on the right side of that home

A: they do not stay there all the time and they were not home the night of the murders

G: on the day you were at the scene had the rubbish been removed? A: its removed on a tuesday that day it was removed he thinks

A: he was with Marli at the hospital


https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Appollis says they pulled fingerprints from house & investigated the crime scene thoroughly.

 

[Really?]

Guess I'll follow the trial here......thanks for the English!!!:scared:

 

[JudgeJudi]

After the case was reported, they located all the family's access cards with Dolf Van der Merwe, Martin's friend, and the Reade-Jahns. Others were in Van Breda vehicles.

All those who accessed the estate early that morning had been traced and gave statements.

James Reade-Jahn, Marli's friend, was also asked for his alibi that day.

Appollis says he got the cellphone records and message history of his, discovered a conversation between him and Marli. He had been at his home that night and had gone to school the next morning.

Similar investigation into family's cellphone records. Looked for threatening messages, only found James' message out of the ordinary, saying he wished he could kill her whole family or along those lines, Appollis says.

Looked at all possible suspects, people previously arrested on estate's fingerprints analysed, no matches.

Henri's statement gives a description of the suspect. Did you try to find someone with that description? No information received, despite exploring all avenues, he says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...to-take-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial-20170816

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

A: In other burglaries in the area mostly domestic workers involved, moving companies, no specific identities found

G: hands up a report of house break ins in the area

G: In this matter is there any indication that this was a house break in any indication in cases where there was a breach in security? No not in those cases

G: Was Marli investigated? A: No she was in a coma, no investigation of her while I was involved

A: according to my knowledge marli never gave a statement nor does she have any recollection of that night

Advocate Botha starts his cross-examination

B: 3 people gave statements, BB1,2,3. about their access into and out of the estate that night

B: 2 said they were driving the buses and the other delivering newspapers? A: correct

B: are you saying only 3 vehicles went in and out? A: no

B: you said you saw cellphone messages with threats so u will agree that the messages came from people who know family

B: People who don't know the family would not be sending threatening messages? A: correct


https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

A:No statement was taken from Marli as she was in a coma. Marli has no recollection of the event&no statement has been taken.

Galloway ends her questioning. Botha now takes over and opens with a chilly 'good morning sergeant'.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Tammy Petersen ‎@TammyPetersen87

Sgt Appollis was tasked to check cellphone records. Only suspicious message was that of James Reade-Jahn, who had an alibi

Appollis didn't interview Marli as she was in a coma for a long time.

She doesn't have any recollection of the incident, as far as he knows.

Advocate Botha cross examining.

Three statements from people who had been at De Zalze that night/morning being referred to.

Botha says two of the people say they are bus drivers, the other a newspaper delivery man.

Botha: You wouldn't know if the person my client described knew or didn't know the family?
That's correct, Appollis says.

Appollis says Henri gave body build, length, of alleged suspect. Appollis says one would be surprised how one could find a suspect with minimal information, even if dressed in balaclava and gloves.

Dirt removed on Tuesdays at De Zalze. 12 Goske Street dirt wasn't removed that day? Appollis says he wasn't there that day, he was with Marli.


Old cases at De Zalze in past 12 years referred to:

Less than 20% of incidents, the cases were solved or a suspect was arrested. Most are unsolved. Yes, Appollis, most were reported for insurance purposes.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...to-take-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial-20170816

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: Olifant said that there were outstanding print information in this case? A: yes before Henri was arrested

A: but yes I agree with Olifants statement

A: description I referred to was given by Henri to Malan.

B: but you will agree with that information that you cant identify someone on that description?

A: We work with little info all the time, we ask around if anybody saw anybody by that description

B: the rubbish removal? ou say its done during the day on Tuesday?A:correct B: so presumably it wouldnt be removed on day of crime

A: my colleagues probably wouldnt have let them remove the rubbish

B: There was info which Coln. Beneke gave regarding crimes in the previous 12 years, and less than 20% were solved in sense of arresting and convicting person who committed crime. A: doesnt dispute

B: you said according to the docket no forced entry? A: the study was all in order but checks were stolen

B: did complainant know how the person who stole checks got into the house? A: no

B: how did they get into de zalze? A: it was a moving company, a domestic worker, one was arrested inside the estate

A: so every incident in the estate the person was identified

B: refers to an incident when a compressor was stolen, how did that person get into estate? A; no idea

A: so I cannot say every single person was identified



https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Henris information of 'intruders'(balaclava,gloves,height)was spread to police.Botha says that information was pointless to give ..to police as it wouldn't have helped to find the suspect.

Botha dealing with a house break in report in another house.no sign of forced entry. 'Could have climbed in through window. A: maybe

Appollis dealing with previous cases in De Zalze. Cameras stolen,petty crime. Nothing like what happened in #VanBreda Goske street home.

 

[JudgeJudi]

De Zalze case where person's cheques were stolen. He says he doesn't know how the culprit gained access.

Past cases involved employees of transport companies, domestic workers, another was allowed access.

Botha refers to WO Nel's statement. She testified yesterday and received the forensic samples.

Tammy Petersen ‎@TammyPetersen87

Sgt Appollis says as far as he knows, Marli #VanBreda still doesn't have any recollection of the triple murders.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...to-take-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial-20170816

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

B: Now referring the witness to exhibit where Nel says she received exhibit, sealed evidence bag with hair sample of Henri and Marli. You made a statement in May last year where you gave further info on this evidence bag

B: you said this is a controlled hair sample of Marli van Breda

A: confirms

Botha: when Wyngaard and Afrika gave evidence they said not all the crimes that occur in Kleine Zalze are reported to police

A: As far as I know they are reported to the estate security

Botha: Regarding Marli, she did make a statement to Beneke, she coudn't remember anything but she did make a statement

A: I cant confirm


https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Botha says the security guards at estate testified that not all crimes on estate were reported to SAPS. Appollis says that's true.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Refers to paragraph where she says on 10 February she received an evidence bag with a hair sample involving Marli. May last year he gave a statement in which he says was a control hair sample delivered by a Sergeant Alexander. Correct, Appollis says.

Cross examination complete.

Desai asks about the axe in evidence. Only axe on premises? It's the only one found on scene by CSI team. Only one axe. No indication of another.

Side gate was closed, a key was hanging from it. It was closed, but need the key to unlock.

Key permanently there.

Axe: Reade Jahn said when he had previously been to the house, the axe had a black head.

Said he didn't recognise it because it's green. He identified it when there was blood on it and it looked black.


Appollis says there was no other axe on the scene.

He didn't find one at the scene. If there was another axe they would have found it.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...to-take-the-stand-in-van-breda-trial-20170816

 

[Really?]

Aaaaaaaaaand that's all folks........gah

 

[JudgeJudi]

I'm so over this trial. Adjourned to Monday.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/Traceyams

Desai: was there only one axe on the scene? A: There was no indication of a second axe on the scene, only one

Desai: the gate on the side of the house, was it locked? A: it was closed the key was in it

A: the key was in the gate

B: regarding the other axe, James said that when he was in the van breda house he saw an axe which had a black blade

B: and when shown the murder weapon, he said he didn't recognise the axe as the one in house it had a green blade

A; We didnt find a black axe in the house, we only found one axe

B: if there was another axe with a black head would you have found it? A: yes

Desai: the description given by Jahn matches this except that the blade colour different

A: They mentioned it was in the pantry there was no other axe in the pantry but this was identified as similar axe

Galloway has no more witnesses for this week, only her blood splatter expert for Monday

Desai: This matter is then postponed to Monday 21 August at 10am

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://twitter.com/AJGMolyneaux

Col. Beneke took a statement from Marli according to Botha. Appollis says he is not aware of it

Judge now asking questions of A. Was the axe found the only axe in house? A: yes. J:was gate open next to house?A:it was locked.

Botha stands up and says the gate had the key in it at all times and could be opened. A: true.

Botha now heads over to axe. Jean testified that there was a different axe. Botha asks Appollis if he is saying that Jean is lying?

A: No not at all. We didn't find an axe with that description on the scene.

A part of the axe is black on top so Jean's testimony didn't give enough description of axe head so might have been the same one.

Judge says Inv. Officer may step down. Galloway says they only have one more witness-Captain Joubert. He is still ill.

Galloway says Joubert will be in court on Monday morning. Meaning we will now postpone to Monday.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

:censored: :rant:

Botha - :liar:

I'm trying not to get emotional but geez, it's hard not to.

 

[L2L]

I'm so over this trial. Adjourned to Monday.[/QUOTE

Yes, JJ, same here! Fed up with constant delays. Just about ready to give it a miss altogether. The only thing keeping me interested is Prime's morning teas!

 

[JudgeJudi]

Next Thursday is the last day in these sittings. Obviously we're in for another delay of some weeks.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I'm so over this trial. Adjourned to Monday.

Yes, JJ, same here! Fed up with constant delays. Just about ready to give it a miss altogether. The only thing keeping me interested is Prime's morning teas!

LOL

I'm ready to call it quits too. HvB is going to jail but what year, I'm not sure?! He'll probably be married with children, this is just a circus!

 

[JudgeJudi]

Panayiotou resumes on 26 September and I'll be following it again. Things run smoothly in that trial.

This trial is pure farce now. Once the blood spatter expert has finished, the defence will probably say they don't want to start until the next batch of dates.

 

[Interested Bystander]

What a total waste of court time. Less than an hour. This is going to be another OP long drawn out case where the culprit spends a couple of years living it up before he gets his comeuppance. On what grounds HvB could appeal I know not but we can be fairly sure he will. That will be his "keep out of jail as long as I can" tactic.

Apologies if some of my posts seem a little strange. My keyboard/computer has started entering endings of words way back in the sentence or even the paragraph before and sometimes I fail to notice. It seems it is because I type too quickly. I have had this trouble before and downloaded a program that stops it. I must see if I can find it again. I have a new OS so I guess the program was not copied over during the change.

See you Monday in the hope that Joubert is in fine fettle.