A grand jury in the US has ruled that two men and two teenagers should face multiple charges over the alleged murder of Bermudian Sherlene Church, 57, and her husband Jerry, 62.

According to court papers, the pair were beaten and kicked to death in their Georgia home in Melody Lakes, Waverly Hall, on June 28.

A preliminary inquiry heard in July that the culprits were thought to be searching for alcohol when they entered the home.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper reported in the aftermath of the killings that the bodies were discovered by Harris County Sheriff's deputies who had arrived at the couple's home to inform them their car had been stolen and wrecked in a drunk-driving accident.

A 23-person grand jury at Harris County Superior Court, Georgia, decided on Monday that there was enough evidence for a total of five defendants to be indicted.

Kevin McKay, aged 21 at the time of his arrest, Dereck Cox, 19, and two juveniles aged 13 and 16 are each charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, robbery by force, theft by taking and burglary.

Court papers allege that Mr. Church was stabbed by the defendants and that they beat and kicked both victims in order to rob them of bottles of liquor, credit cards and household goods. They are further alleged to have taken a Nissan Frontier truck and a Chrysler Sebrig vehicle belonging to them.

The four are also said in the court papers to have stolen US currency, strong boxes and a Ruger P-89 pistol valued at more than $500.

A fifth defendant, Joshua Pounds, is accused of burglary and concealing the death of Mr and Mrs. Church by hindering the discovery of where they were killed.

They will be formally arraigned on the charges on September 22.

Mrs. Church, known in Bermuda as Star Swan, originally hailed from Pembroke but had lived in the US for more than 30 years. She married Mr. Church last December.