ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Former Perth schoolboy who reportedly murdered his entire family has case heard in court

Henri van Breda was painted as a callous and calculating killer during prosecution closing arguments. - by Tim Clarke
  • 14 Feb 2018

Former Perth public schoolboy Henri van Breda axed his family to death, smoked three cigarettes and then rang his 16-year-old girlfriend — even as his teenage sister lay bleeding from massive head wounds and fighting for her life, a South African court has been told.

Prosecution closing arguments in the gripping murder trial of the 23-year-old at Western Cape High Court painted a picture of a callous and calculating killer, who butchered his mother, father and brother before making a call to emergency services so calm the operator thought it was a prank.

He was 20 at the time of the incident in the family home in an exclusive golf estate in Stellenbosch in January 2015.

As his 16-year-old sister Marli lay severely injured, prosecutor Susan Galloway said Mr van Breda did nothing — apart from lighting his smokes.

He concocted a story she said was “well rehearsed” by the time he came to court. Mr van Breda blamed a laughing, balaclava-clad intruder, whom he thought was black, for attacking his family as he watched helplessly from a bathroom. He described how he struggled with the attacker, disarmed him and threw the axe at him, before losing consciousness.

But Ms Galloway said that account did not tally with his demeanour when emergency services arrived at the house, which was “was calm enough to direct them up the stairs and was not unfocused and distraught”.

“This was not consistent with a house robbery or armed robbery,” Ms Galloway said. “None of the victims made an attempt to hide or call for help ... that is because the attacker was known to them.”

The attacker could only have been Mr van Breda, she said.

family attacked

Accused killer Henri van Breda with his family.

Facebook

That Marli, a former Presbyterian Ladies’ College pupil, survived was “not indicative of a lesser attack, but rather a miracle”, Ms Galloway said.

Picking apart the defence case, which included a claimed late diagnosis of epilepsy which Mr van Breda’s lawyers said accounted for a missing 160 minutes in his timeline, Ms Galloway paid attention to Mr van Breda’s wounds. Scratch marks on his arms, equal in depth and almost perfectly parallel, were labelled “textbook” examples of those appearing to be self-inflicted.

Asked by Judge Siraj Desai what it would mean if Mr van Breda had cut himself, Ms Galloway was unequivocal. “The version of an intruder loses all credibility,” she said.

Mr van Breda has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Lawyer Pieter Botha was due to sum up the defence case overnight.

This article originally appeared on The West Australian.

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Perth axe attack: The reason why Henri van Breda murdered his family revealed

Perth axe attack: The reason why Henri van Breda murdered his family revealed

Sweet Nichole - Murdered by a FACEBOOK FRIEND

Sweet Nichole - Murdered by a FACEBOOK FRIEND

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

Man who crushed toddler to death with car seat is jailed

Mum defends 10-year-old daughter accused of killing baby Jaxon in daycare centre

Mum defends 10-year-old daughter accused of killing baby Jaxon in daycare centre

{headline}

{headline}

TRUE CRIME - Who murdered Billie-Joe?

TRUE CRIME - Who murdered Billie-Joe?

Husband sentenced to life after killing his wife and hiding her body in a suitcase

Husband sentenced to life after killing his wife and hiding her body in a suitcase

'I killed someone's little girl'

'I killed someone's little girl'

{headline}

{headline}

Woman murdered disabled teen just to tick it off her bucket list

Woman murdered disabled teen just to tick it off her bucket list

Boy stabbed at sleepover dies on birthday

Boy stabbed at sleepover dies on birthday

Accused Claremont serial killer in court

Accused Claremont serial killer in court

17-year-old boy charged with the murder of Melbourne mum

17-year-old boy charged with the murder of Melbourne mum

Brock Turner files appeal to overturn his rape conviction

Brock Turner files appeal to overturn his rape conviction

ACA reporter Ben McCormack pleads guilty over child porn charges

ACA reporter Ben McCormack pleads guilty over child porn charges

Horror as 14-year-old girl discovered dead after being killed with a hammer

Horror as 14-year-old girl discovered dead after being killed with a hammer

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!