Man charged with murder after two bodies found near Grafton
Quick Look
- A 32-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder and stealing a motor vehicle after the bodies of a 79-year-old man found on September 13 and a 59-year-old man found on Monday were discovered on a property near Grafton, NSW.
- He was arrested at Grafton Base Hospital and refused bail to appear in court later today.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Police discovered the body of a 79-year-old man inside a home on Summerland Way at Gurranang on September 13. A crime scene was established, and during follow-up inquiries on Monday afternoon, the body of a 59-year-old man was found inside a shed at the same property.
In short:
A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder over the deaths of two men discovered on a property near Grafton.
A 79-year-old's body was found inside the home at Gurranang on September 13 and a 59-year-old man's body was found on Monday.
What's next?
The man will face court later today.
A man has been charged with murder over the deaths of two people on a property near Grafton, their bodies found two weeks apart.
The body of a 79-year-old man was discovered by police inside a house on Summerland Way at Gurranang on September 13.
A crime scene was established at the home, 25 kilometres north of Grafton, with police investigating the death.
As part of their inquiries they returned to the home on Monday afternoon where they found the body of a 59-year-old man inside a shed.
The State Crime Command's Homicide Squad established Strike Force Faneel to investigate the deaths.
Around midday yesterday police arrested a 32-year-old man at Grafton Base Hospital.
He was taken to Grafton Police Station and charged with two counts of murder and stealing a motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 1 later today.
Confronting scene
On Tuesday, NSW Police Superintendent Joanne Schultz said the scene was "confronting" for the first responders.
"[They were] both clearly traumatic scenes and particularly for those officers that arrived on the scene yesterday and were not expecting to locate the 59-year-old male in the situation [where] he was deceased," she said.
Police said the 59-year-old was not local and was visiting the area when he died.
Superintendent Schultz said the crime scene had not been maintained prior to the discovery of the second body.
Investigations continue.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The accused will appear in Bail Division Court 1 later today to face charges.
Very likely · Within hours
Investigations by Strike Force Faneel will continue.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What was the relationship between the victims and the suspect?
- What was the motive for the killings?
- Was the stolen motor vehicle linked to the crimes?
- Why was the crime scene not maintained prior to the second body's discovery?