Triple axe murderer Henri van Breda gets three life sentences

FORMER Melbourne university student Henri van Breda has been given three life sentences for the murders of his parents and brother in South Africa.

FORMER Melbourne university student Henri van Breda has been given three life sentences for the murders of his parents and brother in South Africa.

Van Breda, 23, was also given a 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of his sister and an additional 12 months for obstruction of justice.

FORMER MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING FAMILY

ANDREW RULE: VAN BREDA STANDS TRIAL OVER FAMILY AXE SLAUGHTER

The former University of Melbourne physics student appeared emotionless tonight as the judge handed the sentences down for the horrific killings at his family’s luxury home in Stellenbosch, a scenic town in a wine-growing area.

Lawyers for van Breda indicated they will appeal the sentence.

“Each murderous attack on a family member is a severe crime and warrants the severest punishment,” judge Siraj Desai told the packed Western Cape High Court in Cape Town.

Van Breda was led away by court officers as his girlfriend watched on from the public gallery.

Henri Van Breda sits in the dock of the Western Cape High Court to hear his sentence. Picture: AFP/Rodger Bosch

Henri van Breda has been sentenced for the murders of his parents and brother and the attempted murder of his sister.

Henri van Breda (far left) with his parents and siblings. He murdered his mother, father and brother with an axe and left his sister with near fatal injuries.

Van Breda had denied murdering his 21-year-old brother Rudi and parents Martin, 54, and Teresa, 55, and leaving his sister Marli struggling with near-fatal injuries to her head, neck and throat after the bloody attack in January 2015.

During the trial, Van Breda had told the court that a late-night intruder had entered the family’s luxury residence on the highly-guarded De Zalze Golf Estate.

Henri van Breda arrives at court last month with his partner Danielle Janse van Rensburg.

Defence advocate Pieter Botha had called for a “merciful” sentencing, arguing that Van Breda was a first-time offender who was “barely 20” when he killed his family.

The Van Breda’s sold their Claremont home and moved to Buderim, Queensland in 2012 because of another business opportunity and to be closer to their sons who were studying at university in Melbourne, before eventually moving back to South Africa in mid-2014.

The eldest son, Rudi, studied mechanical engineering at Melbourne University alongside his younger brother.