An elderly widower was allegedly murdered in a secluded house up to a day after being snatched from his family home.
Gerard Anthony Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, appeared via video link in a Sydney court on Thursday charged with kidnapping and killing 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian.
Police allege the two men, along with an unknown third offender, abducted Mr Baghsarian in a case of mistaken identity from his northwest Sydney home about 5am on February 13.
The facts of the case were not read in court but documents detail allegations that Andrews and Stevens transported the 85-year-old to a semi-rural makeshift stronghold in Dural, on the city's outskirts.
Police believe Mr Baghsarian was murdered at some point before 9pm on February 14.
His body was then allegedly dumped in bushland near Pitt Town, about a 30-minute drive from Dural, in the following hours before being discovered about 10 days later.
The men were arrested by heavily armed police on Wednesday.
Andrews' seasoned criminal lawyer said he had a difficult job representing the accused kidnapper and killer given the horrifying allegations against him.
The detailed allegations were disturbing but his client was not the mastermind of the incident, solicitor and former police officer Paul McGirr said.
"It's a horrific set of (alleged police) facts that I've read," Mr McGirr said.
"I have a job to do and it's very hard at this particular moment for me to do that job."
Andrews appeared on the court video link wearing the same white Gucci T-shirt he was seen in when he was arrested by police.
He responded "yes, I can", when asked if he could see and hear the court.
Stevens' lawyer asked if his client could be sent antiviral medication for shingles while he was in custody.
"The shingles is not contagious anymore, I just haven't showered for 24 hours," the second accused killer said from western Sydney's Amber Laurel Correctional Centre.
Stevens' lawyer, Javid Faiz, said the case was a tragedy but he would not comment on the allegations faced by his client.
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad commander Andrew Marks said on Wednesday the case was akin to somebody's worst nightmare.
"These people need to be held to account for that and that's why we are bringing these people before the courts," he said.
Vehicles, electronics and clothing relevant to the investigation were seized during search warrants at Kenthurst and Castle Hill, both in northwest Sydney, and Lake Macquarie in the Hunter region.
Police are searching for the third alleged offender with the belief more people were likely involved in the incident.
Authorities believe the intended target for the abduction was a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street as Mr Baghsarian.
Detective Superintendent Marks suspected the intended target was to be kidnapped in hope of a ransom fee being paid and confirmed reports the figure demanded was $50 million.
Mr Baghsarian's family, who described the harrowing ordeal of the kidnapping as a nightmare, expressed relief the alleged offenders had been caught.
They have asked for privacy, as they come to grips with the death of their devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather "who would never hurt a fly".
Andrews and Stevens did not apply for bail and will return to court on April 17.
