Son charged over couple's death

Wangaratta couple Bill and Pauline Thomas were a quiet and loving couple well-regarded in the local community. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

THE son of a couple found dead in their home has been charged with murder.

Ian David Thomas, 35, of Western Australia, faced an out-of-sessions court hearing charged with the murders of Bill and Pauline Thomas.

Plain-clothes detectives arrested Mr Thomas in Meredith, between Ballarat and Geelong, on Tuesday.

The bodies of the devoted couple were found in their home outside Wangaratta on Monday night.

Ian Thomas has been arrested over the deaths of his parents.

A barefoot Mr Thomas, in a blue jumpsuit, asked for bail, saying: "I am absolutely no threat to anyone's livelihood whatsoever."

He appeared calm, but had an injury to his face that he said occurred when a police officer "stomped" on him as he was arrested.

The hearing was told investigations into the cause of the couple's deaths, some time between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, were continuing.

Detectives have arrested a 35-year-old man after the discovery of two bodies at a home in country Victoria.

Mr Thomas was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Family of the couple, who'd been married for 40 years, said they were in disbelief at the tragic deaths.

Mr Thomas's brother, Alan, said: "We're all just totally shellshocked. We're absolutely gobsmacked."

Police outside a house in Wangaratta where two bodies were found. Picture: Rob Leeson

The dead couple's other children, who live in Queensland and Western Australia, planned to gather at Alan Thomas's Undera home.

"Nobody knows what to do. We're all dumbfounded," Mr Thomas said.

He said the last time he saw his brother was at his mother's funeral in January, when the family gathered.

Police outside a house in Wangaratta where two bodies were found. Picture: Rob Leeson

"They were a very quiet couple, kept to themselves, and when they weren't working they were inseparable.

"They would help anybody," he said.

Meredith resident Courtney Young said news of the arrest had been a shock.

"Everyone's been talking about it and we have seen the police around town," she said. "It's such a quiet kind of place normally - not something you expect to hear about."

wayne.flower@news.com.au

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