Henri Van Breda smiles in court at sentencing hearing over the murder of his parents and sister 

Triple axe murderer Henri van Breda smiled in court as he waited to learn his fate after killing his family in South Africa 

Triple axe murderer Henri van Breda smiled in court as he waited to learn his fate after being found guilty of hacking his parents and brother to death.

The former Perth student, whose sister was the sole survivor of the frenzied attack, appeared nonchalant as he fronted the High Court in Cape Town on Tuesday. 

His sentencing was postponed until Thursday, with South African Judge Siraj Desai considering showing the 23-year-old some mercy, despite his heinous crimes. 

The judge said he was searching for some ‘human factor’ that diminishes, to some degree, the gruesome nature of the attacks by van Breda, who in 2015 murdered his wealthy family at their estate in Stellenbosch, a scenic town in a wine-growing area.

The former Perth student appeared nonchalant as he fronted the High Court in Cape Town on Tuesday

The former Perth student appeared nonchalant as he fronted the High Court in Cape Town on Tuesday

Pictured: Martin Van Breda, right, wife Teresa, and eldest son Rudi, centre, and Marli, left

Pictured: Martin Van Breda, right, wife Teresa, and eldest son Rudi, centre, and Marli, left

‘There must be something, or the only inference is that he acted in total wickedness,’ said Desai, who appealed to defence lawyer Pieter Botha ‘to put before me some reason for these attacks.’

The judge even asked Botha if he wanted a court adjournment to discuss the matter with van Breda, but the lawyer said his client maintains his innocence and therefore can’t express remorse for the crime. 

The defence also noted in the Western Cape High Court that van Breda was a young man and a first-time offender.

‘I cannot take it any further,’ Botha said.

Van Breda is pictured in court on Tuesday. He sentencing was postponed until June 7

Van Breda is pictured in court on Tuesday. He sentencing was postponed until June 7

Marli van Breda survived a severed jugular but was unable to testify against her brother due to memory loss

Marli van Breda survived a severed jugular but was unable to testify against her brother due to memory loss

Desai said van Breda’s youth was not a strong factor in any argument for leniency in sentencing, and that his parole chances when he reaches his 40s could be affected by whether he gets more than one life sentence.

The grisly murders attracted international attention, including in Australia, where the van Breda family lived for some years.

Van Breda was also convicted of the attempted murder of his sister at the time of the attacks. 

She suffered severe head injuries. The court said van Breda inflicted injuries on himself to try to mislead police. He was also convicted of obstructing justice.

Henri van Breda is seen arriving at the Western Cape High Court, in Cape Town on June 5

Henri van Breda is seen arriving at the Western Cape High Court, in Cape Town on June 5

Van Breda walks towards the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, when his sentencing was postponed until June 7

Van Breda had claimed a masked intruder killed his 21-year-old brother Rudi and parents Martin, 54, and Teresa, 55, and butchered his sister Marli. Van Breda claimed he fell unconscious and survived.

Van Breda showed little emotion as the verdict was delivered last month, saying only ‘I do’ to confirm that he understood he was being held in custody until sentencing.

He was handcuffed from behind and tried to say a few words to his sobbing girlfriend before he was led into the basement of the court from the dock.

Van Breda claimed his brother Rudi, 21, and parents Martin, 54, and Teresa, 55, were killed by a masked intruder with an axe, who also wounded his sister Marli, then aged 15

Van Breda claimed his brother Rudi, 21, and parents Martin, 54, and Teresa, 55, were killed by a masked intruder with an axe, who also wounded his sister Marli, then aged 15

Last week, the convicted triple murderer was attacked by five inmates while making his way back to the hospital section of the Cape Town jail. 

Another prisoner ripped a metal condom dispenser from a wall and used it as a weapon to fend off Van Breda’s attackers.

‘Henri said [his attack] was a terrifying, horrible experience,’ said Van Breda’s attorney Lorinda van Niekerk after visiting the murderer on Friday morning. 

Van Breda was also convicted of the attempted murder of his sister at the time of the attacks

Van Breda was also convicted of the attempted murder of his sister at the time of the attacks

The grisly murders attracted international attention, including in Australia, where the van Breda family lived for some years

The grisly murders attracted international attention, including in Australia, where the van Breda family lived for some years

‘But he is coping well after being counselled by nursing staff.’

Pollsmoor Prison, located 22km outside of Cape Town, is notorious for overcrowding, poor health conditions, gang violence and rape. 

Conditions there were recently described as ‘profoundly disturbing’ by a constitutional judge.  

Van Breda showed little emotion as the verdict was delivered last month, saying only 'I do' to confirm that he understood he was being held in custody until sentencing 

Van Breda showed little emotion as the verdict was delivered last month, saying only ‘I do’ to confirm that he understood he was being held in custody until sentencing 

He was handcuffed from behind and tried to say a few words to his sobbing girlfriend before he was led into the basement of the court from the dock 

He was handcuffed from behind and tried to say a few words to his sobbing girlfriend before he was led into the basement of the court from the dock 



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