It was "very traumatic" for police involved in the investigation the night that former police officer Marius van der Westhuizen shot dead his own three children, the Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.

One of the investigators who attended the scene of the crime at Van der Westhuizen's home, Sergeant Ewald De Goede, told the court he needed psychotherapy afterwards.

Asked by prosecutor Mornay Julius why he had needed counselling, he said: "The sight of the children lying dead on their beds, each with a bullet wound to the head, impacted severely on me. I also have small children, and to this day I receive counselling."

Van der Westhuizen is on trial before Judge Willem Louw and assessor M Powell on three charges of murder.

Van der Westhuizen burst into tears and wept loudly and uncontrollably when De Goede said he also had small children.

His tearful outburst was so severe that the proceedings were stopped for about 30 minutes to enable him to recover.

Questioned by defence attorney Milton de la Harpe, De Goede said he was at the scene after midnight on 28 July 2006 when shooting rang out.

The court heard earlier that one of the shots was Van der Westhuizen's attempt to commit suicide, when he shot himself under the chin.

The shots that followed were fired by police in his backyard. In the twilight, they mistakenly thought he was shooting at them and returned fire.

De Goede said Van der Westhuizen was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. After the operation, De Goede was ordered to arrest him and keep him in safe custody.

De Goede was also ordered at the hospital to handcuff Van der Westhuizen after he emerged from the operating theatre.

This was because Van der Westhuizen was jerking and for his own safety he was handcuffed to prevent him ripping out tubes from his neck.

The hearing continues.

Sapa