A NSW man accused of murdering two people on a remote rural property in the state's west had been in a relationship with the female victim.
Allan Geoffrey O'Connor, 61, faced Dubbo Local Court on Monday, three days after the bodies of a 36-year-old local woman and a 28-year-old man, named in media as Jacob Cumberland, were discovered with gunshot wounds at a farm in Hermidale, near Nyngan.
Mr Cumberland's 59-year-old father, Stephen, was also found dead inside a burnt caravan on the farm but his cause of death is yet to be determined, police said.
O'Connor did not apply for bail during the brief court appearance and it was formally refused by Magistrate Philip Stewart.
O'Connor had previously been in a relationship with the woman, police said earlier on Monday.
"I can't speculate on the motive. I can say that investigators believe (they) were previously involved in a domestic relationship," Acting Superintendent Andrew Hurst told reporters in Nyngan.
Acting Supt Hurst said two properties have been searched and investigations are continuing.
"A search warrant was executed at a rural property in Hermidale yesterday. That property and the original crime scene remain under the control of police and will be subject to further investigation today," he said.
"Investigations are still in its early stages, a lot of work needs to be done on this crime."
Police understand they were part of a small tight knit community.
"And in this part of the state, small communities like this take these incidents very personally."
Media reports suggest one side of the caravan was destroyed with debris strewn across a wide area and locals have reported hearing an explosion. However, forensic experts are still examining the scene.
O'Connor's case will next be heard at Bourke Local Court on August 20.
Share
