Johannesburg - A father, two sons, and their two friends arrested for the murder of a Parys, Free State, businessman who was buried alive in a stormwater pipe, have appeared in the Parys Magistrate's Court, Beeld reported on Thursday.
The father and one son indicated they wanted private legal representation, while a 19-year-old man accepted a legal aid lawyer.
Magistrate Charlene Neyt said the bail application would start on January 14, whether or not the father and son had legal representation.
She said the 17-year-old son and his friend, 17, who were released into the custody of guardians, had to be present during court proceedings.
On December 4, Craig Marx, 47, was travelling in his vehicle when he was apparently ambushed by the group who had previously done renovations for him.
The father, who owed Marx R10 000, his sons and their friends allegedly used a shock device to paralyse Marx, before they assaulted him with a metal pipe.
He was wrapped in plastic and bound with ropes and adhesive tape and placed in a stormwater pipe about 15km outside Parys.
An autopsy later showed he had most likely suffocated to death.
The alleged murderers were later identified by CCTV footage showing them stopping at a garage to buy cooldrinks after the killing. R20 000 had also been withdrawn from one of Marx's business accounts.
Sapa