Patric Suter, now 34 years old and another man known only as Guido S, now 27 years old, as well as one woman referred to as Ruth S, go on trial at Solothurn District Court accused of murdering 55-year-old Margrit Dubey, her 60-year-old husband, Pierre-André and their 35-year-old daughter Dania, online news site 20 Minuten reported.

In 2009, the two men arranged a meeting with Margarit Dubey at her home with a view to robbing the family. Overpowering her, Margarit Dubey was tied up and suffocated with a plastic bag placed over her head.

The two then made their way upstairs where Margarit had indicated that money was kept. There they came across the other two family members.

Patric Suter broke several of Pierre-André’s ribs, pressed a pillow into his face and shot him in the head. He then tried to strangle Dania, and was aided by Guido S who assisted by putting a plastic bag over her head also.

The two men confessed to the murders in August 2009.

Ruth S, now 51 years old, has also been indicted for compelling the two to commit illegal acts in order to recover the estimated 20,000 francs ($22,000) that both Patric Suter and Guido S owed her.

Ruth S had met Suter at a dog training class. She had then loaned him 15,000 francs, and loaned other sums to Guido S for a commercial chicken grill, online news site Blick reported.

Two months before the murder, Ruth S asked for her money back. But the two did not have it. The pair first tried to rob a Volg convenience store, but without success. Ruth S then suggested robbing the Dubey family.

Ruth S had hoped that she would gain several thousand francs from the robbery. All six people were involved in the illegal Schenkkreis network, an illegal lottery system where new members pay or gift an entrance fee to the existing members, with a view to later reaping rewards when further new members join.

Margarit Dubey was one of the senior members of the pyramid scheme. Patric S, Guido S and Ruth S had joined later and were expecting to receive significant amounts.

When no funds were forthcoming, the three assumed that the Dubey family would have a great deal of cash because of their involvement in the Schenkkreis scheme and decided to rob them.

However all that the murderers escaped with was a measly 5,000 francs ($5,510), €600 ($660), and some jewellery.

The prosecutor said that the murders were committed in “cold blood”, and caused “unnecessary physical and mental pain, distress and suffering” to the victims, Blick reported.

The trial will last four and a half days. A verdict is expected on May 7th.