Accused has psych evaluation

Andrew Hutchison. Photo / Supplied

The man accused of shooting two men at their home in Hokitika had been suffering from deep depression, according to police investigating the case.

Police allege a 41-year-old killed 86-year-old retired farmer Frank Schist and his intellectually disabled grandson Andrew Hutchison, 23, on Tuesday.

The accused was granted interim name suppression when he appeared before Greymouth District Court on Wednesday to face one charge of murder.

He will be the subject of psychiatric assessments before his next appearance on April 27, when he is expected to face a second murder charge.

Police said the lifelong Hokitika resident, had been "spiralling" into deep depression for some time and was in severe financial strife.

Friends said he had been a heavy cannabis smoker since his teenage years and had separated from the mother of his young son.

Police allege he killed each of the men with a single shotgun blast to the head.

Their bodies were found side-by-side in the living room of the Fitzherbert St home Schist shared with his wife, Joyce.

She was being treated in hospital at the time.

Rumours about the links between Hutchison and the accused have been swirling around the settlement of just over 3000 people.

Hokitika police were not pursuing the theory the killings were a revenge attack.

bevan.hurley@hos.co.nz