Double murder accused 'got on well with victims'

File photo / NZ Herald

A neighbour of West Coast shooting victim Frank Joseph Schist heard arguing followed by two cracks "like a tin garage door slamming" within seconds of each other, the High Court at Greymouth was told yesterday.

Anne-Marie Ferguson was testifying at the trial of Jeffery Douglas Frost, 42, who has denied the double murder of Mr Schist, 86, and his intellectually handicapped grandson, Andrew William John Hutchison (also known as Giles), 23, in Mr Schist's Hokitika home on April 6 last year.

Both were shot in the head with an old rust-pitted, single-barrelled shotgun.

The Crown alleges that after putting the rifle to Mr Schist's head and pulling the trigger, Frost calmly broke open the weapon, put another cartridge in the chamber and shot the grandson.

Mr Schist died slumped in his chair, while Mr Hutchison fell face down to the floor, his right hand still in his pocket.

Miss Ferguson said the loud noises came just minutes after the arguing. The argument sounded like "the old guy next door" but it was only brief.

She recalled Frost had visited the Schist home previously "and they always seemed quite friendly towards each other".

Frost's ex-partner, Kataraina (Kathy) Paul said he had shut himself off and withdrawn in the week leading up to the killings. Although they had split up they still had a friendly relationship.

"I lived in his house and Jeff lived in the sleepout, outside. He moved back in August 2009 after splitting with his girlfriend."

Ms Paul said that while she did not know the Schists, Frost did.

"If he went fishing he'd give them fish, they would give him veggies from their garden and he even cleaned their spouting - they got on great."

Frost had no motive for the crime and was not claiming self-defence, provocation or insanity, the court heard yesterday.

His defence was simply that he had not intended to kill his victims.

However, Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintel told the jury: "When someone takes a gun and shoots someone in the head you intend to kill him."

Mr Zintel said Frost had been under pressure to pay the mortgage on his house and had just received notice he would have to pay $500 a week in child support for an estranged son.

A search of Frost's property revealed numerous demands for outstanding amounts suggesting he was about $5000 in debt and was struggling to pay a fortnightly mortgage of $895.

Meanwhile, a search of the Schist home revealed more than $3000 in assorted notes.

The bulk of the cash was in an envelope in a drawer but there was also a significant amount in one of two wallets found.

Detective Alex York accepted under cross-examination that the Schist home was neat and tidy and there were no signs anyone had searched it looking for cash.

- NZPA