Charlize Theron's former childhood home the centre of violent murder investigation

Owner Barry Newland was tortured to death at the house last Friday (28.09.12) by a gang of five burglars, who pretended they were interested in buying a car at his home-based car sales business.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Nomsa Sekel said Mr Newland suffocated after being bound and gagged with a plastic bag, and his body was also covered in cigarette burns and wounds from a hot clothes iron.

The raiders stole a number of items during the attack, including a mobile phone, laptop, two cameras, iPod and a gold chain.

'Snow White And The Huntsman' star Charlize has previously spoken about the domestic abuse she and her mother suffered in the house at the hands of her alcoholic father before her mother law-fully shot him when she was 15 years old.

She said: "I think, for me, it took a long time to sink in, what had really happened because you just don't think stuff like that will ever happen to you."

According to Gerda, Charlize's father began shooting at the front gate after returning from a late night of drinking and banged on the door of their daughter's bedroom saying, "Tonight I'm going to kill you both with the shotgun."

The actress later said her mother was forced to shot him after he fired at her bedroom door.