A 41-year-old man was granted name suppression when he made a brief appearance in Greymouth District Court this morning charged with murdering an elderly Hokitika man.
Frank Joseph Schist, aged in his 80s, and another man, who has not yet been named, were shot dead at a Fitzherbert Street house.
But the accused is only charged at this stage with murdering Mr Schist, because police have not yet positively identified the second victim.
The court was told that a second murder charge would be laid once formal identification had been completed and relatives informed.
Defence lawyer Doug Taffs asked that the accused undergo a psychiatric examination before he reappeared next Tuesday.
The man was remanded in custody.
A homicide inquiry was launched after officers discovered the bodies of the two men, in the Fitzherbert St house about 2.50pm yesterday.
Greymouth area commander Senior Sergeant John Canning said a a "distressed" man found at the scene was arrested.
Police this morning confirmed that a rifle was found at the house.
The dead men were believed to be related and their names would be released later today after next-of-kin had been informed.
Officers from Nelson and Blenheim were helping local police with their inquiries.
The bodies remained in the house overnight, and a full scene examination began this morning.
Police said the bodies would be taken to Christchurch today for post mortem examinations to be carried out.
The Hokitika deaths follow the shooting deaths of two people at a camp ground in Nelson on Monday.
