West Coast man found guilty of double murder

File photo / NZ Herald

A West Coast man was found guilty of double murder today after shooting two neighbours last year.

Jeffrey Douglas Frost, 42, of Hokitika, was found guilty by a jury in the High Court in Greymouth of murdering Frank Joseph Schist, 86, and his intellectually handicapped grandson Andrew William John Hutchison (also known as Giles), 23, on April 6 last year.

Frost, a timber processor, was Mr Schist's next door neighbour in Hokitika.

Both the dead men were shot in the head with a rust-pitted single-barrelled shotgun in Mr Schist's living room.

The Crown said that Frost shot Mr Schist at close range before calmly reloading his gun and shooting Mr Hutchison.

Police confirmed during the investigation that Frost was not licensed to own or use 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.

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

Frost was remanded in custody for sentencing on July 15.

- NZPA