Civil suits
DNA evidence heats up Van Breda triple axe-murder trial
The Van Breda triple axe-murder trial has seen emotions flare since it began four months ago. And this week the stakes were unusually high when DNA evidence - often a make-or-break element in any trial - came under the microscope.
Henri van Breda, 22, is accused of axing to death his parents Teresa and Martin, and his brother Rudi, at their luxury home in the De Zalze estate in Stellenbosch in January 2015.
DNA analysis made its first appearance early this week as the trial resumed after a six-week hiatus. For four days, defence lawyer Matthys Combrink and state witness Lieutenant-Colonel Sharlene Otto, a chief DNA analyst for the police, locked horns.
The week began with potentially damning evidence against Van Breda: Otto's report said DNA from Teresa and Rudi was found in scrapings from his fingernails and blood on his shorts. It was also revealed that "no unknown DNA was found on the crime scene"...
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