Gruesome details about the murder of a Dalton business owner and his son last year were heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday as the trial against the two men accused of the killings began.

Testifying at the trial of Sibusiso Shinga and Nhlanhla Gabela, Sergeant Siphephelo Msomi described discovering the bodies of businessperson Ismail Lunant and his son, Shanis Moosa Lunant, in their Dalton home in July last year.

“Shanis’s hands and feet were tied with shoelaces; he had a T-shirt on and was not dressed from the waist down. We found his father in another bedroom. He was also tied, but with an iron cable or cord,” Msomi said.

The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of housebreaking with intent to commit robbery, two counts of murder, and one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

According to the indictment, on the morning of Friday, July 14, 2023, Shinga and Gabela, armed with knives, went to the deceased’s home to rob them.

“Upon arrival at the home, they forced entry into the house. They encountered Shanis in the passage and stabbed him multiple times, fatally injuring him. He died on the scene.

“They proceeded to the bedroom, where Ismail was. They assaulted him with a torch, fatally wounding him. They then removed bags of money from the cupboard drawer.”

State prosecutor Adv Zinhle Sokhela said she would present circumstantial evidence from police officers who attended the scene, a statement from an accomplice detailing how the crime was planned, and the fingerprints of one of the accused.

The trial is set to continue until December 6.