Frederick Steel Sayers, 26, was arrested after a man was found dead and his wife with serious head injuries at a home north of Brisbane on Thursday.
He has been charged with the murder of Nicholas Richard Reeves and attempting to unlawfully kill Suzanne Dale Reeves.
Police were called to do a welfare check at the Burpengary East residence on Thursday morning when they found the couple.
Sayers, 74, was declared dead at the scene while 71-year-old Reeves was rushed to hospital.
She remained in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition on Thursday night.
Police said it was not a domestic violence-related incident and Sayers was not previously known to the victims.
“We believe he just attended today to do some form of gardening duties,” Detective Inspector David Harbison told reporters on Thursday.
The charges against Sayers were heard for the first time at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Friday but the Beachmere man was not required to appear in person.
Legal aid duty solicitor Brendan Whelan asked for an adjournment to allow police to provide him with the evidence involved in the case from forensic examinations, DNA testing and witnesses.
“I would require three months to allow for the size of it,” Whelan said.
Police prosecutor Alex Donald said he would be able to provide a brief of evidence within 10 weeks.
Sayers was previously denied police bail and must apply to the Supreme Court to be granted bail on a murder charge under Queensland law.
Acting Magistrate Peter Cooke ordered the matter next be heard for a committal mention on July 26 at Caboolture Magistrates Court.
Police are not looking for any other persons of interest.
