(Cape Town) Two men accused of the brutal slayings of nine men at a gay massage parlor in Cape Town, South Africa appeared in court Monday. It was the first opportunity for relatives of the victims to see the suspected killers face to face and family members packed the public gallery at the Cape Town Magistrate's Court.
43-year-old Trevor Basil Theys and 27-year-old Adam Roy Woest wearing leg irons where led into the court.
The men stood emotionless as the charges were read to them.
Both face nine counts of murder, one of attempted murder, one of robbery with aggravating circumstances and one of the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The pair was remanded in custody to February 25 for further investigation.
The arrest of the two men came soon after police released composite drawings of the suspects from the Sizzlers Massage Parlor killings.
The nine victims were shot in the head at close range and their throats were slit.
One employee, known only as Quinton, managed to escape and raised the alarm, although he too had been shot twice in the head. He is now being held in a safe house for his own protection.
Woest lived not far from the scene of the gristly murders. Police said he had a clear view of the escort agency from his living room. A waiter in a local restaurant in the predominantly gay neighborhood, Woest, is said to have served several of the victims on numerous occasions.
Theys is a taxi driver who moonlighted driving prostitutes to their clients at night.
Police say both men have confessed. The statements they gave police are to be read at their trial.
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