The Van Breda murders were the killings of three family members and serious injury of another on 27 January 2015 at a golf estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.

[4] On 27 January 2015, Martin van Breda, 54, the managing director of the Australian branch of Engel & Völkers,[5] his wife, Teresa, 55, and their eldest son, Rudi, 22, were found dead in their home, victims of an axe attack.

Over the course of a few months, extensive surgery and further medical treatment saved Marli's life; she was later diagnosed with retrograde amnesia and has no recollection of what took place on the evening of the attack.

"[7] Marli spent months undergoing intensive physiotherapy and eventually returned to school, but was kept separated from her older brother, with both parties residing with family members.

[12] A pre-trial hearing was held at the Western Cape High Court in September 2016 and the case was postponed until November as state prosecutor Susan Galloway requested more time to obtain outstanding computer and DNA evidence.

[13] Henri and his girlfriend, Danielle Janse Van Rensburg, were arrested on 6 September 2016 by Table View police for the possession of cannabis and were granted bail of R1000 and R200 respectively.

[14] On 4 April 2017, the state's trial against Henri van Breda started in the Western Cape High Court with him entering a not guilty plea.

During testimony describing his recollection of the events, Henri claimed he and the family were attacked by "an axe-wielding black man, wearing dark clothes, gloves and a balaclava-type mask".