When the always punctual Jeffrey Julyan failed to fetch his wife, Leanne, from work by 4.45pm on December 19, 2017 she knew something was wrong.
She was right to be concerned – her brother-in-law Wesley Neil Julyan (34), with one murder conviction already, had strangled to death her husband, Jeffrey (34), their son, Ethan Julyan (9), her daughter Kayla McKenna (16) and her father, Peter McKenna (73) before setting the house alight.
ALSO READ : JUST IN: Wesley Julyan found guilty of murder and arson
Julyan, released from prison after serving six years for the infamous ‘shoelace’ murder, had waited just seven years to commit an almost identical crime.
In 2004, Julyan and a co-accused were convicted of the 2003 murder of 51-year-old Amanzimtoti man, Kenneth Gary van Aardt in 2003, when Julyan was just 18 years old.
Mr van Aardt was strangled with a shoelace and his body buried in a shallow grave in a bushy area outside the very same house in Mtwalume where the family was murdered.
On Monday this week Julyan, was found guilty by the Mtunzini High Court on four counts of murder and one of arson.
Justice was swift – on Tuesday he was sentenced to four life terms for the murders, and five years for arson.
On the day of the murders, arrangements had been made for Jeffrey Julyan to return furniture from the family’s home in Umtentweni to the house in Mtwalume where Julyan was staying.
He was accompanied by Ethan, Kayla and Peter.
At the house Julyan assaulted Jeffrey with a pick handle, causing blunt force injuries to his head and neck, before strangling him with a rope.
Mr McKenna was strangled with copper wire, while Kayla was strangled with a dog chain and rope. Ethan was also strangled.
After the murders, Julyan doused the house with petrol and set it alight.
Message to girlfriend
Julyan remained at the scene of his grisly crime, and messaged his girlfriend in America as the bodies of his family were charred by the blaze.
His defence was that he had had no idea who had started the fire or that his family had been killed.
Two months after the murders, he was arrested in Plettenberg Bay, where he had been staying with his father, Clive.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and in June last year was sent to Fort Napier for psychiatric observation.
He was found fit to stand trial.
In court, senior State Advocate Dorian Paver lead the testimonies of witnesses who told the court that Julyan had made no attempt to help them put out the fire.
On the contrary, they testified that he had in fact hindered their attempts.
Adv Paver mentioned that in the victim impact statement compiled by Jeffrey’s widow, Leanne, she spoke of her devastation at the murder of her husband, her father and two children.
Closure
“We have closure now and our new lives started on Tuesday,” said family spokesman, Sharon McKenna.
She thanked Detective Warrant Officer Herman Pienaar for his hard work and effort in pursuit of justice.
She shared some personal thoughts on the slain members of her family.
“My dad, Peter Eugene McKenna was the most amazing example to us – Leanne, the eldest, me and our younger brother, Ryan. He was a godly man who lived for his family and had unbelievably unconditional love for my mom, Jeanette. They were married for over 42 years. He taught us right from wrong and was known by all as a gentle man.
“Jeffrey Shaun Julyan, my brother-in-law, was a good man who enjoyed spending weekends with his family – taking them out or just staying at home. His children looked up to him as a role model and it was never too much trouble to drop or fetch Kayla at the movies or at her friends’ houses.
“My niece, Kayla McKenna was going to Grade 11 at Port Shepstone High. She was a popular girl who didn’t live by what others thought or did. She was an excellent example of what a “perfect” teenager should be. Her passions were music, and cooking in the evenings alongside her mom, Leanne. Kayla was the most beautiful soul inside and out… God has really gained an angel with our loss.
“Ethan Julyan, my nephew, was a fun loving, lively little boy who could make anyone laugh. He loved staying at home and playing games with his cousin, with whom he was so close he called him ‘brother’.
“Rest in peace, our dear family.”
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
To receive our FREE email newsletter, click HERE
