Survivor can't recall van Breda family axe attack
Marli van Breda, the former Perth schoolgirl badly wounded in an axe attack that killed her mother, father and brother, has retrograde amnesia and no memory of their horrific murders.
Marli, 16, had extensive brain trauma and a fractured skull in the attack in her family's South African home on January 27.
Her extended family revealed yesterday the former Presbyterian Ladies' College student had been discharged from the rehabilitation care centre where she had been treated for the past few weeks.
"That she survived the attack is a miracle and her physical recovery continues to astound those close to her," the family statement said. "She is able to walk, communicates well and, surprisingly, given everything that has happened, has retained her sense of humour."
Marli's medical team told the family her retrograde amnesia was not strange and often happened to patients who suffered such traumatic experiences.
"In some cases the situation remains for life," the family statement said. "A long road of rehabilitation lies ahead as she learns to compensate for certain neurocognitive difficulties resulting from her traumatic brain injury."
Marli and her 20-year-old brother Henri, who had minor wounds, were the only survivors in the attack that killed businessman Martin van Breda, his wife Teresa and their oldest son Rudi, 22, in their luxury home in the De Zalze estate in Stellenbosch near Cape Town.
The family lived in Perth for about seven years, with Rudi and Henri van Breda attending Scotch College, before they returned to South Africa last year.
No arrest has yet been made and police have released few details about what happened. Unconfirmed reports in the South African media have suggested Henri van Breda's injuries were "self-inflicted" and that he was addicted to methamphetamine.
The family statement said police were "physically protecting" Marli, who had not been able to make a formal statement.
"Her biggest challenges of all are most probably coming to terms with the inestimable loss of her immediate family, reintegrating into everyday society and rebuilding her life," it said.
She is receiving physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy and psychological counselling.
Marli is in the care of family friends and a legal curator has been appointed to make recommendations to the High Court, which will make the final decision over her future.
Marli asked for a photograph of her to be released publicly as her way of thanking those who had supported and cared for her.
News break – April 20
