South Africa axe murders: Henri van Breda charged with killing his parents and brother

Henri van Breda’s father Martin, his mother Teresa, and brother Rudi found murdered at home

Henri van Breda was released on bail after being charged with the murders of his family members (Getty Images)

A South African student has been charged with the axe murders of his parents and older brother at the family’s mansion after handing himself in to police.

Henri van Breda, 21, originally claimed he was knocked unconscious during the attack on 27 January 2015 and officers found him wearing bloodstained shorts, a court in Stellenbosch heard.

Van Breda's father Martin, 54, his mother Teresa, 55, and his elder brother Rudi, 22, were found dead in their home on the De Zalze Golf Estate.

His younger sister, Marli, 17, survived but suffered amnesia from injuries sustained in the attack and is yet to give any statement about the incident.

Court papers showed van Breda is alleged to have tampered with the scene of the crime and suggest his superficial injuries were “self-inflicted with a knife”, according to MailOnline.

It is also reported he waited nearly three hours after the crime took place before phoning the emergency services. Phone records show no emergency calls were made between 4.27am and 7.12am on the night of the murders.

The blood on van Breda’s clothes and arms was found to belong to his family members, raising suspicions of his involvement in the crime.

Van Breda’s lawyer Lorinda van Niekerk told Times Live: “The police made an arrangement that he hands himself over and that’s what he did this afternoon. The family want justice to take its course.”

Van Breda has additionally hired high-profile defence lawyer Pieter Botha, who defended British millionaire Shrien Dewani when he stood accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon in 2010.

He was granted a £4,600 bail after the judge deemed his release would not “jeopardise the case or public safety”, although he is not permitted to leave the province.

The van Breda family had lived in Perth for several years before moving back to South Africa.