It’s been more than a month since Henri van Breda was last in court, but yesterday proceedings resumed in the Western Cape High Court.
Stepping up to the plate was Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Otto, the police’s chief forensic analyst, and her findings paint a pretty grim picture for Henri’s defence team.
EWN reports:
On Monday, she methodically worked through the DNA samples taken at the scene of the crime. She explained to the court whose DNA had been found where.
DNA found under Henri van Breda’s finger nails were from his mother and brother. Henri’s DNA was found on the axe used in the attack and his brother’s on the knife.
Otto stated that no foreign DNA was detected on any of the 216 pieces they had tested.
Zero foreign DNA – almost like there was no one else there at the time of the murders or something.
Of course it is possible that someone could leave no trace, but certainly not probable. News24 below:
When asked by State prosecutor Susan Galloway what the odds were of a person entering a space and not leaving any DNA, Otto said someone covered from head to toe wouldn’t leave behind a trace.
She also explained the Locard principle – that every touch leaves a trace. “That is a first law of forensics,” Otto said.
Henri has claimed that a laughing, axe-wielding intruder, wearing gloves, a balaclava and dark clothing was behind the attack.
He didn’t mention anything about being covered head to toe, though.
Today will see Advocate Pieter Botha cross-examine Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Otto, so she will no doubt be put under severe pressure from the defence.
