South Africa - Martin, 55, Theresa, 54, Rudi van Breda, 22, murdered, 26 Jan 2015 #4

[Estelle]

Tammy Petersen‏ @TammyPetersen87 5m5 minutes ago

Annelize Taljaard, understood to be a former neighbour of the #VanBreda family at De Zalze, is the defence's third witness.

Tammy Petersen‏ @TammyPetersen87 4m4 minutes ago

Taljaard was a State witness who wasn't called. She lived at 14 Goske Street. #VanBreda

Taljaard wakes at 5am. That morning went to swim at Paul Roos, left at 5:30. Back before 7am usually to get kids ready for school. #VanBreda

She and three kids home on night of murders. Went to bed at about 10pm. Youngest daughter with her. Heard nothing out of ordinary. #VanBreda

Friend came to ask her what was going on outside and Taljaard went to look. Saw ambulance and police parked in Goske Street. #VanBreda

Adv Megan Blows to cross-examine. Taljaard says there were contractors at house next door every day as it was under construction. #VanBreda

https://twitter.com/TammyPetersen87


Nick van der Leek‏ @HiRezLife 5m5 minutes ago

Nick van der Leek Retweeted Tammy Petersen

Jeepers, how much flimsier could this possibly get? #VanBreda

https://twitter.com/HiRezLife

 

[JudgeJudi]

The #VanBreda trial resumes shortly. The next Defence witness is Annelize Taljaard, profession to be confirmed.

https://twitter.com/CapeTownEtc

 

[JudgeJudi]

Annelize Taljaard was a neighbour of the #vanbreda family, who also lived in Goske Street.

Adv. Botha confirming with the witness by photos the house in Goske street she lived in.

The witness rented the house, 14 Goske Street, with her 3 children.

https://twitter.com/CapeTownEtc

 

[JudgeJudi]

Taljaard didn't hear or see anything unusual by the time she went to bed the night of the attacks, around 10pm. Woke up at 5am.

Taljaard admits she is a light sleeper, something that comes naturally from being a mom of three she says.

Contrary to a testimony from a previous State witness, Taljaard did not hear the arguing and shouting which was heard by them

https://twitter.com/CapeTownEtchttps://twitter.com/hashtag/vanbreda?src=hash

 

[JudgeJudi]

Taljaard wakes at 5am. That morning went to swim at Paul Roos, left at 5:30. Back before 7am usually to get kids ready for school.

Dropped kids and was in kitchen and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Heard commotion outside, thought dirt collectors.

Friend came to ask her what was going on outside and Taljaard went to look. Saw ambulance and police parked in Goske Street.

She's a light sleeper as she's a mom of 3.
Stephanie Op't Hof testified that for two hours she heard angry voices coming from #VanBreda house.

Stephanie Op't Hof lived opposite the Van Breda home.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Taljaard says she didn’t hear anything.Sound carries at De Zalze, she explains.Noise reported to security as homes close together.

Adv Megan Blows to cross-examine. Taljaard says there were contractors at house next door every day as it was under construction.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Rohde trial postponed until Mon, 30 Oct. and this trial, stops and starts. :/

 

[Estelle]

https://twitter.com/HiRezLife

Nick van der Leek‏ @HiRezLife 9m9 minutes ago

"Glad nie." Annelize Taljaard says she definitely didn't hear men's voices for 2 hours on the night of the incident. Sound travels.#VanBreda

Desai asks Botha not to lead Annelize Taljaard to speculate. #VanBreda

Annelize Taljaard said she heard bump sound at night & thought it was a rubbish bin being moved. #VanBredaAfter 17 minutes & Botha is done.

Annelize Taljaard testimony simply seems to be to confirm "that there wasn't an argument" earlier in the evening. #VanBreda

State: Just because you didn't hear anything doesn't mean people didn't die that night. Annelize Taljaard: I agree. #VanBreda

Desai: How is it that you are a person who sleep lightly not heard? Annelize Taljaard: Ex amazed. #VanBreda

After 25 minutes Annelize Taljaard is excused. Perumal next? #VanBreda Court adjourned to 11:30.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Double-storey house between Taljaard and #VanBreda home, Blows points out. Op't Hof's house closer, across road. No building in between.

Murders took place before 4:24 according to cellphone records, agree it happened while you were asleep? Taljaard agrees.

Was put to Op't Hof noise she heard was family watching Star Trek. You hear it? I was sleeping, so no. Didn't hear banging sounds

Taljaard didn't hear shouts for help, attacker laughing, or Teresa Van Breda asking what was going on, as per Henri's untested version.

Fact you didn't hear it, doesn't mean Mrs Op't Hof couldn't, Blows says. Taljaard agrees.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Taljaard says she was shocked at murders. She wakes up if people are having a party, laughter. Didn't hear anything that night.

She felt so safe at De Zalze she would go swim and leave her children at home in the early hours of the morning, Taljaard says.

*Court adjourned to 11:30*

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Wow, the Defence sure have some compelling witnesses ... not.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Rohde trial postponed until Mon, 30 Oct. and this trial, stops and starts. :/

My husband's :floorlaugh: He made countless jokes today about what will happen this week re postponements.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Taljaard said she felt so safe at De Zalze that she would go swim and leave her children at home in the early hours of the morning.

That comment won't win her any brownie points with the judge. Look at the number of children who have been in cars that were stolen while the mother ducked into a shop ... and that's here in Oz. Who in their right mind would leave a young child, let alone 3, at home by themselves in a country like SA. The extreme violence against children there shocks me to the core. Totally irresponsible mother.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The Defence's next witness is Charl Rabie, owner of Energized Fencing. We can expect to hear about security.

https://twitter.com/CapeTownEtc

 

[JudgeJudi]

The former policeman has been in the electric fencing industry for 20 years

Rabie did work at De Zalze about 12 years ago. His company didn't install the estate's fencing.

Conventional system means electricity to energiser (which powers fence) comes from Eskom or municipality via wiring.

If electricity goes off, there is a battery linked to energiser. Reserve feeds battery. If electricity falls, battery runs.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

[video=youtube;ab6YNaq_0LM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6YNaq_0LM[/video]

 

[JudgeJudi]

Thorburn in Parow would contact De Zalze security to say if there is an issue with the fencing.

If voltage falls below threshold, system is activated. Can be caused by connecting 2 wires for 3 secs, cutting wires, wet branch.

Does person in Parow know what caused voltage to fall?
No, Rabie says. Not at all.

26 Jan at 7:38, alarm on. Means it was activated, relayed to Parow via computer. Voltage fell under threshold. Kiosk door opened.

Could be poor connection to door, anything could cause it, Rabie says. Beam monitoring kiosk also activated. Can't say by what

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Another kiosk door opened, beam activated and alarm on later. Also can't confirm cause. Four activations in total that night.

Dip in power can't cause activation. That is why the battery is there, immediately powers energiser, Rabie says

According to security report, there were more activations, Rabie says. 9:24 - alarm on. Can't see cause. Data must be stored on PC.

Rabie says causes could be wires connecting, an animal, electronic issues on system, vegetation or fence being in poor condition.

Activation remains until noted and deactivated. If 1 gets over fence, will there be second alarm? Not in same period, Rabie says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Possible to get through electric fence, Rabie says. Use a stick to separate wires to create opening. Live, earth wires mustn't meet.

Person must have knowledge of electric fencing or you will shock, Rabie says. Wires must meet for 3 "pulses" before it activates.

Can also jump over if there is something for you to use as 'stepping stone', or dig under the fence. Not impossible, Rabie says

The shock from the electric fencing won't kill you, Rabie says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024

 

[JudgeJudi]

Photos of De Zalze fence being shown. Rabie sees how it would be possible to bypass electric fencing.

Person who wants to gain access just has to ensure live and earth wire mustn't connect for more than 3 seconds, Rabie says.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...e-stand-as-van-breda-trial-continues-20171024