Cape Town - Bruno Bronn’s domestic worker was shocked to find his home in disarray, the morning after his alleged murder, the Western Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.
At the time of his death, Bronn owned the gay night club, The Bronx, in the Cape Town CBD.
Jakoba Marcus told the court the first thing she noticed on her arrival for work at his Sea Point home on February 7, 2012, was that his two dogs were on the veranda, instead of being inside with Bronn.
Three men have pleaded not guilty before Western Cape Judge-President, John Hlophe, and assessor Jaco van Reenen, to charges of premeditated murder and aggravated armed robbery.
They are Frederick Willem John Coetzer, Fareez Allie and Achmat Toffa.
A fourth suspect, Kurt Erispe, has become a State witness, and will be indemnified against prosecution if he testifies truthfully and to the satisfaction of the court.
Prosecutor, senior State advocate Carien Teunissen, told the court both charges carried prescribed sentences - life for premeditated murder and 15 years for the robbery.
Although this had already been explained to them by the defence team, the judge insisted that it be explained to them again, for the record.
Marcus told the court: “Usually, when I arrive for work, the deceased was still asleep, with the dogs lying with him on his bed.”
She said she had a key for the front gate, and the front door was closed, but unlocked, to give her access to the house.
She added: “When I went inside, I saw that the door to the pool outside was closed, and the curtains still drawn - both the door and the curtains were usually open to allow the dogs out to go to the toilet.
“I opened the curtains, and then noticed that all the drawers in the lounge were open, and the house in disarray.
“The deceased was neat and tidy, and I wondered why (it) was so mixed up from the night before.
“I worked for him on Mondays and Fridays, and I had expected to find the house as I had left it the previous Friday.”
She said she went to look for Bronn, thinking he was awake because the dogs were on the veranda.
She said: “As I went to his bedroom, I passed his study and noticed that his laptop, which he kept on a glass table in the study, was missing.
“I knocked on his bedroom, and called him by his name, but there was no answer.
“I opened the door and saw that his bedroom was in disarray.
“I got a fright and was immediately afraid and thought there had been a robbery.”
She told the court how she had gone back to the veranda in a state of shock, wondering what to do.
She first tried to alert the neighbours, but got no reply, and she then stopped a passing security patrol vehicle.
She said she asked the driver to accompany her back into the house, to see where the deceased was.
The security officer went into the room and said to her: “Madam, there is a man lying in the bedroom - I think he’s dead.”
She then went into the bedroom herself, to make sure it was Bronn, she said.
She said Coetzer worked for Bronn as a handyman, and had a key to the house.
The trial continues.
Sapa