Henri van Breda convicted of family’s murder
Henri van Breda was found guilty of the murder of his
father Martin, mother Teresa, brother Rudi and the attempted murder of his
sister Marli on Monday.
Judge Siraj Desai delivered judgment in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town.
The family was hacked to death at their luxury home at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate outside Stellenbosch in 2015.
In a lengthy judgment, Desai also found the 23-year-old guilty of obstructing the administration of justice.
Desai said after considering all the evidence "the result is inescapable” and that there was no credible evidence that an intruder entered the Van Breda home, as alleged by the accused.
ALSO READ: Henri's wounds 'textbook description of self-inflicted'
The judge told Van Breda that he was fully conscious and responsible for his actions and poked holes in his defense by describing his wounds as 'textbook description of self-inflicted'.
Van Breda's legal team asked Van Breda to be released on bail following his conviction, saying that even with all the evidence stacked against him there has never been a threat of him escaping.
Desai ordered Van Breda be detained in hospital ward of Pollsmoor Prison, subject to him being able to provide adequate medical certificates for his chronic medication.
Sentencing is due to be handed down in June.