A Selous couple allegedly connived and forced their employer's younger brother to drink poison before concealing his body under a bed. The couple had allegedly severely assaulted him before he died.

Edward Zvoma had been accused by Lovemore Katayamaoko and his wife Elsie Chibanda of spreading rumours that they had stolen his money.

The couple later had a domestic dispute and Chibanda confessed the murder to a neighbour after a year.

Katayamaoko and Chibanda were employed at Plot Number 7 Moulton Estate, Saruwe.

The two are facing a murder charge.

Katayamaoko is in custody while Chibanda is on bail.

However, their trial which was due to open at the High Court before Justice Felistus Chatukuta, failed to kick off after the State led by Mr Makoto indicated that it needed to indict Chibanda for trial.

The defence counsel also failed to attend court.

It is alleged that on September 7 2011 at around 11pm, Zvoma was with the couple in a kitchen hut.

Katayamaoko allegedly accused Zvoma of spreading rumours that the latter had stolen his money.

The couple wrestled with Zvoma and tied his hands from the back.

Katayamaoko allegedly took paraquat from Zvoma's bedroom and forced him to drink it.

Paraquat is a highly toxic weed killer.

Katayamaoko allegedly took a claw bar measuring 1.8 metres and struck the victim several times all over the body.

Zvoma died instantly while the couple hatched a plan to conceal the murder.

They allegedly dragged Zvoma's body to his bedroom and hid it under the bed.

It is the State's case that the couple fled the scene after stealing Zvoma's 100 kgs of maize grain and clothes.

The deceased's sister, Sarah Zvoma reported his brother missing to the police and his decomposing body was found three days later.

Katayamaoko and Chibanda were apprehended by the public on December 23 last year in Chegutu after Chibanda had revealed the murder.