A Benoni man has been murdered in same house that actress Charlize Theron grew up in, The Star reported on Wednesday.

The man, killed on Friday, Barry Newland, ran his business from the premises on Seventh Road, Rynfield. He repaired and sold cars.

Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Nomsa Sekele said five robbers gained access to the property by pretending to be interested in viewing one of his girlfriend Joy Preft’s cars.

The domestic workers had let them in. They tied Newland up when he got home. They put a plastic bag over his head and left him to suffocate.

The gardener and domestic worker were forced into another room and tied up.

Sekele said Newland was burnt with cigarettes and a clothes iron. Newland’s friend Chris Ehlers denied this.

In 1991, Theron’s mother shot her father when he came home drunk and threatened to kill mother and daughter with his shotgun. Gerda Theron was not prosecuted for the self-defence shooting.

Police said a cellphone was stolen during Friday’s crime. Preft said a laptop, two cameras, an iPod and gold chain were also taken.

No arrests had been made and police were investigating.

By Sapa