" A South African court has sentenced former Perth student Henri van Breda to three life sentences for murdering three family members with an axe in South Africa.

Key points: Van Breda murdered his parents and brother with an axe at the family's mansion outside Cape Town in 2015

Van Breda murdered his parents and brother with an axe at the family's mansion outside Cape Town in 2015 Family moved to Australia but returned to South Africa several years ago

Family moved to Australia but returned to South Africa several years ago Judge said van Breda misled police, alleged family was attacked by intruder

Van Breda was also sentenced to 15 years for the attempted murder of his sister Marli, who was unable to remember the attack.

He received an additional 12-month sentence for obstructing the course of justice.

Van Breda murdered his parents and brother with an axe at the family's mansion in Stellenbosch, just outside Cape Town, in 2015.

In sentencing van Breda, Judge Siraj Desai said the attacks displayed a high level of innate cruelty and an almost unprecedented degree of disregard for the welfare of his own family.

"Each murderous attack upon a family member constitutes a very serious crime, warranting the severest penalty possible," Judge Siraj Desai said.

Van Breda's lawyers said they would appeal against the decision on June 27.

A grisly attack in scenic Cape Town

Van Breda's trial began more than two years after his parents and older brother were killed in their home in De Zalze Estate in Stellenbosch, a scenic wine-growing region near Cape Town.

Henri van Breda, left, talks to one of his legal advisers during the trial. ( AP: Nasied Manie )

The grisly attack, which gripped a country that has a high rate of violent crime, also attracted international attention.

The family had moved to Australia but returned several years ago.

Before leaving Australia, the van Breda family lived on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, with Martin van Breda running a real estate firm in Mooloolaba.

Van Breda, who handed himself over to police in September 2016, had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Last month, the court unanimously found van Breda guilty on three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of obstructing justice.

The trial lasted 66 days, but the verdict was postponed for a month due to a reported death within the judge's family.

South Africa does not have a jury system.

Misleading the police

Henri van Breda (left) emigrated to Australia with his family but returned to South Africa several years ago. ( Facebook )

Van Breda alleged during his trial that his family was attacked by an intruder wearing gloves, dark clothes and a balaclava in the early hours of the morning.

Van Breda called emergency responders more than two hours after the attack, saying he had lost consciousness.

In a phone call to emergency services played in court, van Breda told the operator: "My family and me were attacked by a guy with an axe."

Van Breda, who the judge said had tampered with the crime scene in order to mislead police, was found that morning by police sitting outside the house, his clothing stained with the blood of the victims.

Henri van Breda was found to have inflicted injuries on himself to mislead the police. ( AP: Nasief Manie )

Judge Desai had said in his judgment last month, "there was no security breach the night of the murders" and nobody in the estate had, "complained about strangers or any undue occurrence".

The judge had said, "in the absence of any intruder, the only reasonable inference" is that van Breda wanted to mislead police and that he staged the scene of the crime.

He said van Breda had "intentionally" inflicted injuries on himself, "in order to mislead the police as to the true identity of the perpetrator".

He was the 'quiet one'

Henri van Breda was the "quiet one" who was very well-mannered, family friend Paul Freney has told told ABC Sunshine Coast.

Mr Freney worked for Martin van Breda's Mooloolaba real estate agency Engel and Volkers.

He said he developed a close relationship with the South African family, who bought a luxury home in nearby Buderim.

Mr Freney met Martin van Breda at a coffee shop only eight weeks before he was hacked to death with an axe along with his wife Therese and oldest son Rudi in their South African home in January 2015.

Initially, Mr Freney said he couldn't believe it possible that Henri was responsible for the murders.

"I couldn't believe it when I first heard it," he said.

"But it's been proved he's done these heinous things, he deserves to be punished."

Martin van Breda had returned to South Africa to open up a private school, but had kept the family's Buderim home with plans to return.

Mr Freney said the family was "well off, but didn't show it".

"They were Christian people, a lovely family. The kids would sit in the office and do their homework.

"He [Henri] was the quietest one. The older brother [Rudi] was more outgoing.

"He was always very nice. It was 'Mr' this and 'Mr' that.

"It was awful, I just don't know what would possess a boy to do it all."

ABC/AP