Graaff Reinet – Three youths and two men were sentenced for murder by the Graaff Reinet High Court on Friday, Eastern Cape police said.

A 16-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 15-year-old were jailed for in effect 10 years each, said Captain Rochelle Carelse.

Ricardo Lomberg, 19, was jailed for in effect 20 years, and Nantheniel Blouw, 22, was sentenced to life plus 41 years in jail.

The five broke into a house on a farm near Graaff Reinet in August. The farm owner was stabbed 21 times and his wife was stabbed 11 times and hit over the head with a bottle, said Carelse.

The group fled with six firearms, a vehicle and household items.

They were arrested two days later at a roadblock in Knysna, after a shoot-out with the police.

Sapa