A 38-year-old Pamapuria man, accused of two murders, stood in silence in the Kaitaia District Court yesterday as he was remanded in custody to May 30. Edwin Harvey Maheno will undergo an assessment of his sanity and fitness to plead, at the request of counsel Ken Bailey.
Forty-four-year-old Ivan Maheno, the accused's uncle, was slain and his 38-year-old wife Carmen was mortally wounded at their home at Pamapuria, eight kilometres south of Kaitaia, on Sunday morning.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Burke said later in the day that a 38-year-old man had handed himself in at the Kaitaia police station at 10am, and had subsequently been charged with murder.
Mrs Maheno, who was found near the couple's home, was admitted to Whangarei Hospital, where she died late on Sunday night.
Detective Senior Sergeant Burke was not giving a great deal of detail on Sunday night but a source who knew the family said Mr Maheno and the accused had been like brothers, and that was what people were struggling with.
Mr Maheno's body was to have been removed from the house yesterday afternoon.
Neighbours said they had heard shouting, and thought it was some sort of domestic incident, but then heard two shots.
"We heard some shouting and then didn't think anything of it. We heard a police siren and thought okay, that's domestic violence, it's all sorted," Alistair Glanvill said.
He had not known his neighbours, but there had been no problems.
Detective Senior Sergeant Burke said police were still investigating what issues might have led to what he described as a tragedy that had left many people devastated. A firearm had been seized and police were not looking for any other offenders or weapons, but would be pleased to hear from anyone who could offer any information. (Phone the Kaitaia police station on 09 408-6500).
Police had been unable to talk to Mrs Maheno, but her two children were physically unharmed. It was believed that they were not at the address at the time, and were now in the care of extended family.
Twenty-two police staff from around Northland were working on the investigation. A scene examination was carried out yesterday, with forensic examinations and post-mortems to be conducted to determine the causes of death.
Detective Senior Sergeant Burke also reassured the community.
"Clearly when something as tragic as this occurs there is a lot of apprehension. However, the person we believe to be responsible has handed himself in and we have located what we believe to be the weapon," he said.