The State has lined up 58 witnesses against the four men accused of kidnapping and murdering seven members of a Newark family.

The case against Bongumenzi Mpungose (25), Linda Blessing Mthiyane (28), his cousin, Mthandeni Luyanda Mthiyane (21) and Tempeli Michael Mchunu (23) has been transferred to the Durban High Court with trial set to begin on October 8. The men are charged with housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, seven counts of kidnapping and seven counts of murder. Mpungose faces an additional charge of rape.

Court documents detail the State’s case against the four men and how an alleged robbery plot culminated in the April 21 murders of Mariamma Appanah (83), Mooniamma Monswamy (78), Cliffy Padayachee (50), Alan Monswamy (54), Sandy Monswamy (56), Kraidon Monswamy (27) and Shamarie Monswamy (20).

The State alleges the Mthiyane cousins planned the robbery and approached Mpungose for assistance, who in turn roped in Mchunu.

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A WhatsApp group was allegedly set up to plan what was initially intended to be a robbery. Realising they might need to use force to overcome resistance, the accused allegedly armed themselves with a firearm and a knife.

On the night of the murders, they allegedly approached the Monswamy home on foot, forced open the kitchen door and entered the house. The seven victims were allegedly overpowered, bound at their wrists and ankles, and their heads covered with pillowcases or similar items.

The accused allegedly took their cellphones and bank cards and obtained their PINs before transferring money from the victims’ accounts into their own accounts and withdrawing cash.

The State alleges the accused then decided to kill the seven to avoid being caught.

They allegedly loaded the bound and blindfolded victims into the load bin of the family’s Ford Ranger and drove about 200km north to a secluded spot in the Melmoth area.

There, the victims were allegedly taken into the surrounding bush and killed. The State alleges each was shot once in the head and stabbed several times in the upper body.

During the attack, Mpungose allegedly took Shamarie to a separate area, where he allegedly raped and killed her.

The men then went to a petrol station to buy food and drinks before returning to the family’s home in Newark.

Linda Blessing Mthiyane allegedly arranged for the stolen Ford Ranger to be disposed of in Stanger and for an acquaintance to drive the men home.

Mpungose and the Mthiyane cousins were arrested the following day. The seven bodies were found later on April 22 in Melmoth.

Mchunu handed himself over to police on June 23.