The 46-year-old Dunedin man accused of the arson of 66b Wesley St on January 22 appeared before the Dunedin District Court a week after the incident.
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Today he was also charged with the murders of David Ian Clarke (49) and Anastasia Margaret Neve (35).
Defence counsel Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, opposed media applications and applied for continued name suppression.
The Crown supported her bid.
Police confirmed a week after the deaths they were being treated as suspicious.
“Police are now treating the deaths as a double homicide and evidence suggests that they died before the fire started,” a statement said.
Police refused to reveal details around the pair's cause of death because it was “significant” and may become key evidence that goes before a court.
Some days after the initial arrest was made, police offered "identity protection" for anyone who came forward with further information.
The man who had been charged was known to the couple, they confirmed.
The defendant’s next appearance will in the High Court at Dunedin on March 13.
