Man accused of double Dunedin murder appears in court

The cause of death for both Anastasia Neve and David Clarke remains unknown. Photo / Supplied

A 46-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of two people and the subsequent arson of their Dunedin home.

The man is accused of killing David Clarke and Anastasia Neve, then torching their bodies inside a house on Wesley St in January.

He had already appeared in court previously for the arson. The murder charges were added yesterday, after police spent several weeks investigating the belief the pair were already dead before the blaze began.

In an appearance at the Dunedin District Court today, the man was granted continued name suppression. The accused is yet to enter a plea.

Upset family of the dead were ushered from the court after yelling at the defendant.

The cause of death for both Neve and Clarke remains unknown. Police say the accused was known to the couple, but are yet to add anything further.

Detectives have made several calls to the public for information about the fire, and were particularly interested in sightings of people, vehicles and motorbikes, near the Wesley St scene in the early hours of January 22.

They last week promised ''identity protection'' for anyone who came forward with information, in a bid to boost their collection of evidence.

The accused was remanded in custody and will reappear in the High Court on March 13.