Hokitika double murder accused named

The Fitzherbert Street house where Mr Schist and Mr Hutchison's bodies were found. Photo / Simon Baker

GREYMOUTH - The man accused of murdering two Hokitika men three weeks ago was named for the first time when he appeared briefly in Greymouth District Court this morning.

Jeffrey Douglas Frost, 41, a timber processor of Hokitika, is charged with murdering octogenarian Frank Josef Schist and his 23-year-old grandson Andrew William John Hutchison (also known as Giles).

Frost was Mr Schist's next door neighbour.

Police earlier said the pair were shot in the head with a shotgun in Mr Schist's living room.

Frost stood in the dock with his arms folded and did not make eye contact with anyone in the courtroom for today's appearance. He had earlier been charged with killing the older man and today had the second murder charge added. He was further remanded in custody until May 25.

Members of Frost's family seated in the courtroom were visibly upset before he appeared and quickly left without commenting after Frost was taken from the court.

Counsel for Frost, Doug Taffs, made no application for continuing the interim name suppression.

Frost was arrested on April 6 outside the Fitzherbert Street address where the victims had been shot, within an hour of the shooting. He phoned 111 himself and was found in a distressed state and surrendered without incident when police arrived.

The bodies of the murdered men lay inside the family home for about 29 hours before they were removed and taken to Christchurch for an autopsy.

Police confirmed during the investigation that Frost was not licensed to own or operate any firearm.

Mr Schist used a mobility scooter to get around Hokitika and his grandson lived nearby in a house for people with mental and intellectual disabilities.

- NZPA