WATCH: Vanderbijlpark family murder case postponed
A 39-year old Gauteng man has made his first brief appearance in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court, on charges that he murdered his wife and two teenage children in their family home last week.
The court heard that the accused still needs to apply for legal aid, and the case was postponed until 8 December 2015.
The accused initially claimed two robbers entered the home and shot and killed his family while he was outside of the house and that they dropped a firearm as they fed.
He was arrested after police became suspicious of his account of events.
The man faces charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice and the possessions of an illegal firearms.
The mother, her 17 year-old daughter and her 14 year-old son were shot and killed in their sleep.
The daughter was shot six times, the son twice and the mother once, but the neighbours say they heard nothing and did not see anyone.
At the court the accused's sister-in-law said they are shocked that the man who has been part of their family for 20 years could have committed such acts.
"We had good times together…It's heart breaking to see him there, sitting like a pathetic, lost person whose life is over and I can't imagine what pushed him, what made him do this," she said.
The funeral for the mother and her children will be at the River of Life Church in Vanderbijlpark at 12:00 on 11 December 2015.
(Photos and videos: Slindelo Masikane)
(Edited by Suné du Toit)