Double murder accused fit to plead

The West Coast sawmill worker accused of the double murder of his Hokitika neighbour, pensioner Frank Joseph Schist and his 23-year-old handicapped grandson Andrew William Hutchison in early April, was today ruled fit to plead to the charges.

Jeffrey Douglas Frost, 41, was further remanded in custody for a pre-committal conference in Christchurch on June 3, when he appeared in the Greymouth District Court this morning.

Lawyer Doug Taffs said the psychiatric assessment had been completed.

"There are no issues with his fitness to plead."

Mr Schist, 86, and Mr Hutchison (also known as Giles) were shot with a shotgun at Mr Schist's Fitzherbert Street home.

- NZPA