Murder charges over farmer deaths

The son of one of two brothers shot dead on a property in Victoria has been charged with their murders.

THE son of a farmer shot dead with his brother in country Victoria has been charged with two counts of murder.

Ross Streeter, 30, was charged last night.

He will appear in the Melbourne Magistrate's Court today.

Mr Streeter had been questioned over the deaths of Doug and John Streeter at Natte Yallock last Thursday.

The men died at the Streeter Lane property they farmed after being shot.

As searchers converged on the area where the brothers died, Doug's son, Ross, was released from hospital.

Mr Streeter was taken by homicide squad to crime department headquarters to be questioned over the shooting deaths.

He was arrested on Saturday, two days after the double tragedy at the central Victoria farm operated by his father and uncle.

Ross Streeter leaves St Kilda Rd police complex, charged with two counts of murder. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

Mr Streeter was found in Avoca, near the home of his father, with what police described as self-inflicted injuries.

He was taken under police escort to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Searchers spent Sunday scouring land around the death scene in Streeter Lane, Natte Yallock, looking for evidence.

It is not known whether the weapon used has been found.

The bodies of John and Doug Streeter were discovered at their property in Natte Yallock on Thursday.

Locals said there had been nothing to indicate the brothers felt under threat or had been troubled in the period before the tragedy at the Streeter Lane property.

A relative described the pair as good men.

"It's all a mystery. It's unbelievable. We're dumbfounded."

The men were shot between 8am and noon on Thursday, at least six hours before Doug Streeter's wife, Helen, discovered the bodies of her husband and brother-in-law.

Police and SES at the crime scene. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Investigators have called for witnesses who saw anyone acting strangely around the Streeter Lane area on Thursday morning.

Sgt Sol Solomon said the town of Avoca was reeling after the deaths of the "two highly respected citizens".

"It is an absolute tragedy for their families and an absolute tragedy for the Avoca community to lose two outstanding people," he said.

- with Rebekah Cavanagh

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