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Former private school boy from Perth on trial in South Africa for slaying family

A former Perth private school boy is about to go on trial in South Africa charged with slaying almost his entire family.

Henri van Breda is accused of killing his parents and brother with an axe and attempting to murder his sister.

He has lived a privileged life being the son of a wealthy businessman. He was born in South Africa before moving to Perth with his family.

Perth schoolboy family slaying trial. Source: 7 News
Perth schoolboy family slaying trial. Source: 7 News

A lucrative business opportunity eventually saw the van Breda family return to South Africa in 2014.

The exclusive De Zalze golf estate in Stellenbosch, east of Cape Town, became their home.

It was there, on the 27th of January, two years ago, police allege Henri van Breda used an axe to murder his father Martin, mother Teresa, and brother Rudi.

Marli van Breda pictured. Photo: Supplied.
Marli van Breda pictured. Photo: Supplied.

Sister Marli's jugular was severed and she had severe head wounds but survived. The former Presbyterian Ladies College student has amnesia and can't remember the attack but is still expected to testify against her brother.

The 21-year-old will go on trial at the high court in Cape Town.

Henri van Breda. Source: Supplied
Henri van Breda. Source: Supplied

The case has attracted a lot of attention in South Africa with some likening it to the Oscar Pistorius case.

Like the Pistorius trial there's so much public interest the judge is expected to announce on Monday whether he'll allow it be streamed live online.

It took more than a year for police to charge the former Scotch College pupil with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

With more than 100 people expected to give evidence, the trial will run for weeks.

Newsbreak – March 26