Four questions Van Breda will have to explain

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is confident that prosecutors have a strong case against 21-year-old axe murder accused Henri van Breda.

Speaking outside the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was released on R100‚000 bail‚ NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said: “There is a strong case for him to answer.”

Here are four crucial questions that Van Breda will have to answer if he goes on trial for allegedly killing his mother‚ father and brother and the attempted murder of his sister Marli:

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1) Why did he call his girlfriend shortly after the family‚ including himself according to his version of events‚ was attacked?

2) Why did he wait nearly four hours after the attack to call emergency services for help?

3) How did blood from family members targeted in the attack find its way onto his sleeping shorts and white socks - a key piece of evidence acquired by the state?

4) Why were a kitchen knife and the axe allegedly used in the attack found on the premises?

Ntabazalila said the lengthy probe was handled through a programme called “prosecutor guided investigations” which ensured that all the T’s were crossed and the I’s were dotted so that there was a good chance of a successful prosecution.

“Does the state have a strong case‚” asked a reporter? “We believe we do. There is a strong case for him to answer. It’s backed up by some evidence that we have but we will still have to go to court and prove that case beyond any reasonable doubt‚” said Ntabazalila.