Who is Henri van Breda? Son of South African millionaire given three life sentences for murdering his parents with an axe
He claimed he was also a victim after a man broke in and attacked his family
LYING Henri van Breda blamed a pair of mystery intruders after his wealthy parents and older brother were hacked to death in an axe bloodbath.
Now the second son – who stood to gain a £6million inheritance – is heading to jail after being found guilty of three murders in South Africa. Here are the details.
Who is Henri van Breda?
Henri, 23, is the second son of businessman Martin van Breda and wife Teresa, a former IBM computer scientist.
He killed his mum, 54, dad, 55, older brother Rudi, 21, with an axe, and left his younger sister Marli in a coma with near-fatal injuries.
The family had not long returned to South Africa after spending several years living in Perth, Australia, where Martin ran a property firm.
Henri, the only other survivor, had superficial wounds that he claimed he suffered in a “life or death struggle” with a masked intruder.
Reports emerged in local papers that Henri had a drug addiction and his parents had cut off his allowance.
He was charged with three counts of murder, one of attempted murder and another relating to obstructing justice.
What was Henri van Breda’s full sentence?
On June 7, Van Breda was given three life sentences as he was convicted of three counts of murder.
Van Breda also received a separate 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of his younger sister.
Judge Siraj Desai said in light of the evidence, the verdict had been “inescapable”.
The first floor bedrooms and landing were turned into a bloodbath as Henri inflicted at least 17 brutal axe wounds on the victim’s skulls and necks.
Company director dad Martin, 54, died in a hail of at least five axe blows to his head and one to his neck.
Mum Teresa, 55, was struck at least three times.
Eldest child Rudi, 22, was hacked to death with at least four axe wounds to his head.
Daughter Marli, then 16, had at least four vicious head wounds and her jugular artery was cut but miraculously she survived after six weeks in hospital.
She suffered retrograde amnesia and remembers nothing of the deadly axe attack, so was unable to give evidence at her brother’s trial.