Merged Henri van Breda - family murders / Did he do it?

[Samson]

This case may smolder for awhile, and we may see some interesting developments. From all I have read, it seems only remotely possible Henri did not commit this crime. If his relatives wish to keep a scandal subdued, they must keep him subdued. The challenge might substantially elevate household stress levels. What is the protocol when an ax murderer becomes a long-term guest? Should one offer a glib excuse for installing a deadbolt on one's bedroom door, or is it better to say nothing?

It's also possible someone will wake up in the middle of the night and think, "you know, it doesn't seem right that cousin Henri got away with killing his family," and take to social media with their concerns.

The police may be content to bide their time, and let this family live with the project they have taken on.

The concerning aspect is always that sober analysis ignores, and scarcely allows for the altered mind states that probably motivate, and thus explain these crimes. In NZ they are regrettably commonplace, statistically.

In simple terms there should be 60 crimes of a similar nature to an NZ crime in US, There should be 5 in SA republic or Australia.

 

[Octavo]

What's fascinating is the distinctive sociological setting of all these cases. Italy is a far cry from SA which is very different from England etc. In SA we have a large and dangerous criminal class, an encircled white minority, truly awful police and a strong and robust legal tradition with an independently-minded judiciary. IMO this strongly colours these cases and enriches their instructive quality.

A most insightful comment.

The forensics ought to make it open and shut. It's actually very odd that he has not been arrested - no head injury (I assume), history of serious drug abuse, no sign of forced entry and, very likely, an incriminating crime scene one way or another. Those aren't things that take weeks of analysis usually. So what's going on?

truly awful police

Asked and answered

It could also be the case that SAPS (SA police service) is aware of the publicity and are loathe to have another Dewani or Pistorius fiasco and so are taking their time and being more tight-lipped than usual.

That or they're just incompetent. Or both. Probably both.

 

[Octavo]

Nothing new to report this morning. Marli is still unable so speak and doctors are concerned that her brain damage is such that she might never be able speak again

 

[Samson]

Nothing new to report this morning. Marli is still unable so speak and doctors are concerned that her brain damage is such that she might be able speak again

This is too dreadful, in an eastern quadrant two Australians will be shot in a few days. Henri was a crazed ingester of substances that have captured his life, and his family's.

 

[Octavo]

<Zombie thread resurrection warning>

It appears the Henri has finally been arrested and charged. According to the news reports, the NPA (national prosecuting authority) sent the case back to police several times for lack of evidence. At this point the prosecution have been forced (or so it appears) to move forward with what they have. This does not bode well for the prosecution.

http://city-press.news24.com/News/van-bredas-legal-team-gets-tough-20160618

Is anyone willing to predict the outcome of this case? I'd guess that if it's taken a year for the NPA to move on this, they probably don't have an ironclad case and it doesn't appear that any new damning evidence has come to light...

 

[Octavo]

No new information on the article other than his trial starts today...

http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/van-breda-returns-to-high-court-20170202

 

[Samson]

Octavo, are we essentially seeing a drug fuelled slaughter?
If so the case is interesting to various professionals and researchers, but not to help in more complex matters of wrongful accusation etc.

 

[Octavo]

Octavo, are we essentially seeing a drug fuelled slaughter?
If so the case is interesting to various professionals and researchers, but not to help in more complex matters of wrongful accusation etc.

Well that's what the media has been speculating, but both defense and prosecution have been tight lipped, so I'm interested to follow the case.

Henri and his girlfriend were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana in December, but he managed somehow to keep his bail [emoji15]

Of course he has the finest lawyers money can buy so it should be a spirited defense

 

[Octavo]

Trial scheduled to start 27 March. Will necro this thread then.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/axe-murder-accused-henri-van-breda-in-dock-7597212

 

[Ampulla of Vater]

I find this case interesting. Please let us know how it goes in court. I wonder if we can watch it like we watched the Pistorius trial.

 

[Octavo]

I find this case interesting. Please let us know how it goes in court. I wonder if we can watch it like we watched the Pistorius trial.

I'm glad there is some interest. I'll be sure to keep the thread updated in that case. I don't know if this will get TV coverage, but there it will most likely be live-tweeted.

 

[Samson]

Either he did it or it is a locked room mystery.
These are neatly devised in fiction, but in the real world?

 

[Octavo]

Either he did it or it is a locked room mystery.
These are neatly devised in fiction, but in the real world?

Well, to play advocate for a minute, violent home invasions are not uncommon in South Africa.

On the other hand, this happened inside a gated golf estate, no evidence of a break in and nothing stolen, so yeah, he almost certainly did it.

 

[Octavo]

Trial starts today

Trial scheduled to start today, with the judge to decide on whether the trial will be broadcast/live-tweeted.

Some nice catch-up articles appearing this morning:

We start with a handy info-graphic identifying the key persons involved in the incident.

Here, you will find a summation of the time-line and key events to date.

Here you will find a more detailed "all you need to know" type article.

 

[Octavo]

Judge Siraj Desai has agreed to let the trial be broadcast. No exhibits will be recorded and it looks like Marli's testimony will also not be broadcast.


Judge Desai: An absolute bar on audio recordings of bench discussions and of discussion between advocates.

10:14
No exhibits may be photographed or recorded.

10:14
Judge Siraj Desai grants the right for the Van Breda trial to be broadcast, but no footage of Marli van Breda can be shown without prior consent.

 

[Samson]

Octavo:
I could read all that material, but is there any chance it is not a meth fuelled attack on people that were attempting to change his behaviour? That you are aware of?

 

[Octavo]

Octavo:
I could read all that material, but is there any chance it is not a meth fuelled attack on people that were attempting to change his behaviour? That you are aware of?

There absolutely is a small chance that is was a home invasion. They're hardly uncommon in South Africa and home invasions in SA tend to be violent. Killing or raping the family should they be caught at home is not at all an uncommon outcome for such crimes.

That said, the house is within a well-secured golf estate. Most middle & upper class families move to such protected enclaves to avoid home invasions and hijackings. These complexes typically have wrought iron fences with electric fencing all the way around, 24hr manned security boom at the entrance etc.

The chance that an assailant made it into the complex undetected, commited these heinous acts and then escaped without detection should strain anyone's credibility to breaking point... unless you could show the gate guard was involved somehow. Even then, you're going to have to work VERY hard.

Too many problem's with Henri's story. The google search for EMS numbers, which were only called > 3 hours later is going to be VERY hard for him to explain.

I'm interested in this case, not because Henri is likely to get off, but simply to see how far a well-paid defence attorney can go with what should be a slam-dunk for the prosecution.

 

[Ampulla of Vater]

Oh goody - I will have to find a place to watch the trial. I enjoyed OP's trial. It's always interesting to learn about other countries and their justice systems.

 

[Octavo]

Oh goody - I will have to find a place to watch the trial. I enjoyed OP's trial. It's always interesting to learn about other countries and their justice systems.

Well, we'll all have to wait a bit longer I'm afraid. The defense has indicated it will appeal the broadcast decision all the way to the constitutional court and are still waiting for DNA evidence apparently. Trial delayed until 24 April for appeals etc.

I suppose this is exactly how you go about things if you're a defendant with lots of money and little prospect of a not guilty verdict. Delay, delay, delay, appeal, appeal, appeal.

Anyone wiling to start a betting pool on when the trial will *actually* get underway? I'm going with first quarter 2018.

 

[Octavo]

Trial has resumed today.

The salient points so far:

Henri has pled not guilty to all charges.

He has outlined his version of events briefly, explaining how he was injured. His description sounds like something from a horror movie, with the axeman allegedly laughing while going about his grisly work.

Importantly the medical reports indicate there were NO drugs found in Henri's blood, ruling out the salacious rumour that this was a meth-fuelled slaying.

Live reporting available here:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-van-breda-axe-murder-trial-begins-20170424