Grandson witnesses deadly Melbourne beating

A man has been remanded in custody to appear in a Melbourne court on Thursday charged with murder after a grandfather was bludgeoned to death in front of his grandson.

Kenneth Rolfe, 53, died after he was attacked in the backyard of his home in Field Street, Bentleigh, about 4.30am (AEDT) on Wednesday.

His 61-year-old wife, Carol Hellman, suffered severe head injuries and is in The Alfred hospital after undergoing surgery.

Fergal Patrick Downey, 35, of Rosstown Road, Carnegie, has been charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder and faced an out-of-sessions court hearing on Wednesday.

Earlier, in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Downey was ordered to undergo a full examination, including having photographs taken and providing a sample from underneath his fingernails, following an application by police.

Homicide squad Detective Inspector Bernie Edwards said the couple's 15-year-old grandson, who was staying at the house, was woken by the attack around 4.30am, and ran to neighbours to raise the alarm.

"He (the grandson) would be suffering from what he has heard and seen, and we are looking after him," Mr Edwards told reporters at the scene.

He said whoever attacked Mr Rolfe smashed a window to break into the house and was later confronted by the 53-year-old man in the backyard where his body was later found.

mr Edwards said the assailant then went into the house and attacked Ms Hellman.

Intensive care paramedic Andrew Bishop said both victims "suffered significant injuries to the upper body".

"Unfortunately, the man died at the scene," he said in a statement.

"The ... woman was also paralysed down one side."

Outside of the out-of-sessions hearing on Wednesday night, homicide squad Detective Sergeant Wayne Cheeseman said the victims and the accused were known to each other.

He told reporters that police believed a hammer was used in the attack and that the attacker was wearing a pair of green-coloured gloves, which likely were dumped as they fled the scene.

He asked for people in the area of the attack to look out for a pair of discarded gloves.

Police and the State Emergency Service (SES) were earlier searching the area, looking in front gardens for a weapon.

- AAP