Were wounds suffered by son whose parents and sister were killed in horrific axe attack self-inflicted? New twist in grisly murder case as it's revealed survivor waited more than four hours to call police

show ad

EXCLUSIVE: 'Knives and guns are playtime' - the murky world of Bobbi Kristina and the friends who swarm around the home she shared with her adopted brother turned lover
How to lose a job BEFORE you even start: Teen fired after complaining on Twitter about starting 'f*** a** job' at pizza parlor
Iggy Azalea slams Papa John's after pizza delivery guy hands out her phone number to friends and family
Jordanian pilot who was burned to death in sickening ISIS video 'was heavily sedated so he was unaware of what was about to happen to him'
Can the past be changed by the FUTURE? Bizarre quantum experiment suggests time can run backwards
Serial wife killer Drew Peterson charged with trying to hire a hitman to kill prosecutor who got him imprisoned for murdering his third wife
PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Trying to go incognito? Bruce Jenner drives a $14k Ford Fiesta two days after crashing his Cadillac Escalade in fatal wreck
Germany rejects Greece's demands for $200billion in WW2 reparations after country's new prime minister says they had a 'moral obligation' to pay
Fifty people in the U.S. donated a combined $9.8 billion to charity last year - and tech tycoons gave half of it
British ISIS hostage John Cantlie appears in latest propaganda film which he ominously calls 'the last in this series' and in which militants are shown fishing and drinking tea
British Police try to collect names of customers who bought Charlie Hebdo magazine in wake of Paris massacre
Former Vanderbilt football player, 21, sobs as he tells Dr Phil he wouldn't have gang-raped unconscious woman if his dad hadn't died and left him without strong male figure
'I felt like a lesbian cougar': Newly-single Rosie O'Donnell talks meeting 'gorgeous twentysomething girls' on college tour of HBO documentary
Whitey Bulger's 'improper' relationship with female prison psychologist who he gave autographed mugshots in exchange for favors investigated
Is your TV eavesdropping on PRIVATE conversations? Samsung warns users its smart sets can capture every word
Banker texted his father before 'strangling and stabbing his actress wife to death then killing himself' as their baby lay beside them in his cot
EXCLUSIVE: 'I'm your son Etan. I've come home.' How on the eve of the trial of their son's alleged murderer, the Patzes faced yet another agony, 35 years after he vanished
Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, 60, reveals he's fighting degenerative brain disease CTE
Etan Patz murder suspect kept a picture of the missing six-year-old in a shoe box - and told his wife he strangled a 'white guy', court hears
Does EVERYONE have the X factor? Researchers claim anyone can learn to sing - but warn that we 'forget' the ability very quickly
The perfect shopping strategy revealed: Study finds too much choice confuses the brain - and scientists say splitting potential purchases into groups is key
How to survive a plane crash: Stay fit, fly ECONOMY and only think of number one
From fake hotel wake up calls to the airport security trick to steal your valuables: The top 10 travel scams revealed (and how you can avoid them)
PIERS MORGAN: Do we want to tar and feather Brian Williams or let him be the BETTER journalist this 'scandal' will make him? And trust me, I've been there

Henri van Breda's injuries were only self-inflicted, according to a doctor who examined him after the murders
He reported the brutal assault more than four hours after it occurred
His mother, father and older brother were all killed in the axe attack
Teenage sister Marli was left for dead with a severed throat and serious head injuries
Her ability to react to questions from police by blinking is helping them piece together the case
Her 22-year-old brother Henri is heard to 'giggle' as he reported his family's murder

By Frank Coletta and Lillian Radulova and Leesa Smith and Daniel Piotrowski for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 02:39 EST, 9 February 2015 | Updated: 18:24 EST, 9 February 2015

View
comments

There's been a dramatic twist in the shocking axe murders last month of members of the van Breda family in South Africa, with allegations that the surviving son’s injuries were self-inflicted, and in a further development authorities also believe he waited about four hours to call for help.

The Inquisitir has reported that Henri van Breda, 20, who was treated for only minor injuries, and called emergency services at 7.30am claiming his family was 'attacked by a guy with an axe' despite the investigators finding the brutal attack took place at 3am in the city of Stellenbosch.

The brutal assault left his teenage sister Marli, 16, bleeding and close to death on the balcony of her family's home in Stellenbosch, after her throat was cut and she'd suffered horrific head injuries.

Ms Breda's mother Teresa, 54, was found dead on the balcony and police discovered her deceased father Martin, 55, and brother Rudi, 22, in a bedroom.

Marli van Breda has recovered the ability to blink in response to questions which police had hoped could be vital to finding the killer.

Scroll down for video

Split apart: Henri van Breda (back left) reported that he had escaped the attack with minor injuries while his father Martin, 55 (back right), mother Teresa, 54 (front right), and brother Rudi, 22 (back centre) were killed. Marli, 16 (front left), suffered severe head and throat injuries

Chilling: An audio recording between Henri (right, pictured with brother Rudi) and emergency services after his family were hacked to death with an axe, revealed the 20-year-old appeared to giggle during the call

Survivor: The attackers left Marli (pictured) with a cut throat and 'severe' head injuries on the balcony of her home in Stellenbosch - 50 kilometres east of Cape Town. She has begun reacting to questions from investigators, however, by blinking

Chilling emergency call from Henri van Breda after axe attack

Since then, police have revealed that it was at least four hours before her brother Henri reported the crime inside the high-security golf estate, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town.

Remarkably, an audio recording of the five-minute phone call, obtained by eNews Channel Africa, seems to reveal Henri van Breda 'giggling' as he explains the details of the bloody attack.

'What kind of injuries are there?' a woman can be heard asking Henri, who responds: 'my family and me were attacked by a guy with an axe.'

When asked if they were unconscious, he responded, 'yes, and bleeding from the head', before what sounds like a faint chuckle is heard.

A cleaner who worked for one of the van Bredas' neighbours saw the young man, covered in blood, using his phone outside the house shortly after the attack.

It's also thought that a doctor who examined Henri van Breda after the murders, suggests the bruises and scratches on his arms were 'self-inflicted'.

Investigators have also confirmed that a 'brand new axe' was the weapon used.

In the meantime, everything appears to hinge on the future testimony of young Marli. According to her uncle, André van Breda, “She is getting better every day, she is moving her eyes to follow instructions.”

The young man's mental health has been under speculation since News24 reported he had undergone brain scans at an Australian hospital in 2014. However the results were revealed to have been negative and no further testing occurred.

The Times reported his uncle Her Breda, who has been caring for the 20-year-old, said his nephew is heart-broken.

He denied rumours the police wanted to keep him away from a private memorial service held for his deceased family - insisting he was simply hidden from the media's gaze.

Three members of a family killed in axe attack in South Africa

Deceased: Martin (left) and wife Theresa (right) both died at their home in Stellenbosch - about 50 kilometres, east of Cape Town

Brothers: Rudi (pictured left and right) has been remembered by friends as a keen sportsman. His younger brother Henri is now being investigated over his self-inflicted injuries and the four-hour delay in calling for help from emergency services

Mr Breda added: 'For obvious reasons Henri is very heartbroken, and we will support him as the family.

'We as a family are here for him, we will not disappoint him... I promise Henri I won't drop him.'

Marli remains in a stable but serious condition in hospital - but both family and friends have been barred from her bedside.

She underwent brain surgery after the attack and is being closely monitored by doctors, while police provide round-the-clock guard.

Devastated friends who knew the family in Australia paid tribute to the axe attack victims last week.

The family was based in Perth and the Sunshine Coast in Australia, before returning to South Africa in mid-2014.

Rudi's friends have been leaving tributes on social media, with his university friend Afif Norzal saying: 'You are a true blue genuine mate my friend.

'At times when I didn't have anyone to talk to, you would definitely make me feel the most welcome... I will always love you.'

Family friend Retha Dutton said Rudi was visiting his parents and siblings before he returned to university for the final year of his Masters of Engineering.

Mr Norzal told Daily Mail Australia in an interview: 'He was one of those guys - me being from a different culture - he was one of the first friends who genuinely connected with me.

'He was one of those people when he talked to you, you genuinely knew this guy wanted to be your mate. He was a really chilled and laidback person. He never stressed about anything.'

Henri returned to South Africa with his parents in mid-2014. He had been living at Trinity College where his brother was staying while studying at the University of Melbourne in 2013. Both attended Scotch College in Perth.

Ms Dutton told Daily Mail Australia: 'Teresa was a lovely mother... She was so happy all her children were with her, the boys had came from Australia (to visit).

'Henri moved back to South Africa in the middle of last year and he stayed with his family. She loved having him with her. She always used to tell me how wonderful it was.'

Her husband Martin was the managing director of Engel and Voelkers Australia, an international property firm which has offices in Perth and Queensland. Friends described him as a 'great man' with a bright future ahead of him.

Peter Armitage tweeted: '(He) was going to change SA (South Africa)... Folks, live for today. Tell people you love them today.'

Mr Armitage said Martin was the founder of Netstar and Woodhill College. Martin's golf club also paid their 'deepest condolences' to the family on Twitter.

Paul Freney, a friend and colleague of Martin's at Engel and Voelker, told Daily Mail Australia he and his wife Teresa were committed parents to their three children.

'Committed parents' The van Breda family had just moved back to South Africa in June after six years in Perth, Western Australia. Their son Henri is being investigated after his injuries were found to be self-inflicted

Popular: Rudi Van Breda was popular with his friends at Trinity College and the University of Melbourne

Separated siblings: Rudi (left) was killed during the attack,while Marli (right) remains in a critical but stable condition in a South African hospital

He said: 'I heard about it yesterday. A mate of mine rang me up and I nearly fell off my chair.

'They were very nice people. Martin loved his rugby. He was an avid Force supporter from Western Australia. We used to go to the rugby together, he loved his golf.'

'Teresa... looked after the business of running the home and all that sort of stuff, and I imagine had a fair bit to do.'

'He was a very intelligent man and he was obviously very wealthy, had a lot of money, but it was all earned through his own endeavours.'

The van Breda family spent several years living in the Perth suburb of Claremont. Around 2012 they moved to the Sunshine Coast, where Engels and Volker had an office.

Ms Dutton, whose daughter is close friends with Marli, said she last saw the family on January 2 in South Africa. She said they were a 'very, very happy family'.

A close family friend described the van Bredas as 'like a perfect family'

The van Breda family lived on the estate of the De Zalze Golf Club (pictured) about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town

Marli was enrolled at Matthew Flinders Anglican College at Buderim while she was in Year 9. A school spokesman said the community was 'very sad to hear the tragic news'.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with Marli, her family and those who love her,' the spokesman said.

She is currently a student at Somerset College in South Africa.

The school's headmistress Meg Fargher, described the Year 11 student as a 'lovely, popular, clever girl' whose parents were very involved in the school, news24 reported.

Both schools are providing access to counsellors for students.

Emergency medical services spokesman Robert Daniels told reporters it was obvious that the victims were attacked with an axe.

Police leaving he De Zalze housing estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where three members of the van Breda family were killed, and two injured. Henri van Breda's story is now being investigated after a doctor found his injuries were self-inflicted

Forensics expert retrieves a flashlight from a police vehicle at the upmarket De Zalze housing estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where three members of the van Breda family were killed

'What I can say is they were not shot, the patients were axed,' Mr Daniels told the Cape Times. 'The daughter was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma and a severed jugular.

Family friend Alexander Boshoff, 19, described the Van Bredas' as a 'typical happy family', according to South African news reports. 'Our families often spent holidays together. We have known each other for years,' he said.

Mr Boshoff said the family moved around a lot due to Martin's work but the boys never complained and then added that they were 'like a perfect family'.