Pietermaritzburg - Three alleged murder and robbery accused, aged 18, 19 and 20 years, were captured in the home in which a Greytown builder was overpowered, trussed and fatally stabbed, it emerged in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.
Two of them were caught hiding under beds in two bedrooms and a third was found hiding behind a cupboard.
Security guards, alerted to the invasion, rushed to the scene, inspected the double storey-home of the late Cornelius (Joe) Herholdt, 66, made the arrests and handed the suspects to the police.
Accused Sifiso Phungula, 19, Lungisani Zungu, 18, and Lindakuhle Mbhese, 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder and robbery of Herholdt.
He was killed when the accused failed to get money from him.
Judge Rishi Seegobin warned them that they faced life sentences for the murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery.
The indictment alleges that Zungu, who used to work for Herholdt, and his co-accused vainly sought jobs in Greytown in February this year.
Zungu allegedly told his co-accused that Herholdt had lots of money and if they failed to get any they should rob him.
They allegedly took a screwdriver and knife to force him to say where the money was and after tying him up he was stabbed to death.
The case continues.
Sapa