Arrest over double murder in Hokitika

AMY GLASS/The Press

Police speak to neighbours outside the Hokitika house in which the bodies of two men were found this afternoon.

AMY GLASS/The Press

A police car guards the scene on Fitzherbert Street, Hokitika, where two men were found dead in a house.

Scene of incident in Hokitika

View Larger Map

Relevant offers

Crime

Ex-MP admits drink-driving Thieves pillage weapons, armour Baby murder-accused sobs, sniffles in court NZ police access Facebook evidence Warning: Man approaching children Jail for stabbing ex-partner with screwdriver Megaupload accused to spend another weekend in jail Wellington man fit for trial on wife's murder Teen jailed for sexual assault Drink-driver who attacked officers jailed

A Hokitika man has been arrested and will appear in Greymouth District Court tomorrow charged with two counts of murder.

The bodies of two people found dead in a house in Hokitika will meanwhile remain there overnight.

Police on the West Coast are investigating a double homicide, and have been speaking to a "distressed'' man found at the scene.

Inspector John Canning said police went to to an address in Fitzherbert Street, Hokitika at 2.55pm today, acting on information received.

They were met outside by the man and after searching the house they discovered the bodies of two other males.

A man in his 40s is now in custody and is being transferred to Greymouth tonight, where he will appear in court in the morning.

A full scene examination will begin tomorrow.

Canning said the identities of the dead men would not be released until next of kin had been advised.

Police from throughout the Tasman policing area were in attendance at the scene.

Fitzherbert Street is the main road through Hokitika.

Earlier, Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy of the Nelson CIB confirmed staff were on their way to the scene.

A Press reporter at the scene says a dozen bystanders are watching outside a cordon around 25 metres from the house. Police are going in and out of the small bungalow.

Fitzherbert St resident Jenny Coleman said it was "unbelievable" and "very scary" that the killings could have happened on the street.

"We never have anything like this here. It's too unreal to believe."

She said she had not seen or heard anything in relation to the shooting until the police arrived.

Police were escorting residents to and from homes within a cordon around the crime scene, which covered Fitzherbert Rd between Park and Tudor streets.

The cordon was expected to be lifted this evening, she said.

An employee of Fitzherbert Court Motel, around 300m from the scene, said he did not hear anything leading up to the shooting.

"I can see what’s going on, but I have no idea [about details]. They’ve cordoned off a house and maybe a house next door"

He said the scene was a “normal residential house”. There were "half a dozen police cars'' at the address.

Traffic had been diverted away from the main road.

- © Fairfax NZ News