Man charged with Red Cross murder

An unemployed man was charged with two counts of murder today in connection with the gruesome killings of Fiji’s Red Cross chief and his companion.

Apete Bauleka Kaisau, 23, did not enter a plea during a brief court hearing. He was remanded in custody for a psychiatric examination.

Kaisau refused the help of a lawyer.

British-born Red Cross chief John Scott, 53 and his companion Gregory Scrivener, 39, were hacked to death in their home in Suva earlier this month.

The detained suspect was a friend of the dead men, and had known them since he had been in high school, police said.

Police Commissioner Isikia Savua said at a news conference the young man had been ‘‘exploited’’ by the dead couple.

‘‘We are questioning youths and young men in their early 20s who may have information as to other aspects of the investigation pursuant to our accused,’’ Savua said.

The man was arrested in Nadi, 125 miles west of the capital Suva after his family alerted police.