A 41-year-old man accused of killing his elderly parents and attempting to murder his brother on Auckland’s North Shore can now be identified as Marc Anthony Govinden.

Govinden appeared in the High Court at Auckland, where he declined to seek continued name suppression. He faces two charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder.

His parents, Raman and Rooksana Govinden, both in their late 70s, were found dead at their Glenfield home on 28 July. His brother survived an alleged stabbing in nearby Birkdale with moderate injuries.

As per RNZ, Justice Mathew Downs remanded Govinden to a hospital or secure psychiatric facility rather than prison and ordered mental health assessments.

“You are charged with murdering your parents and then attempting to murder your brother,” Justice Downs told Govinden during the hearing.

The judge set aside three weeks for the trial from 2 August next year, with the case due to return to court for another brief hearing in October.

It is further reported that police were initially called to a Birkdale address on the night of 28 July following reports of a stabbing.

Officers found Govinden’s brother, identified as Andrew, suffering moderate injuries. Govinden was also at the property and was arrested.

Police subsequently went to his parents’ home in Glenfield, about 5km away, to conduct a welfare check.

Raman and Rooksana were found dead inside the property.

“This is an awful set of events,” Acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie told local media following the incident.

“I know this will leave many in our community unsettled, but what I can say at this early stage of the investigation is that the offender and victims are all known to each other.”

Govinden’s uncle, who lives in South Africa, told the New Zealand Herald the family had loved New Zealand because of its reputation for safety.

He described Raman as a private man who rarely discussed family difficulties. “My brother was a true gentleman,” he said.

“He loved his family. They were his priority.”

Raman had attended medical school and maintained high standards for himself, his brother said.

“He was resilient and a fighter. It’s very tragic.”

He described Rooksana as a loving and caring woman who had previously battled cancer.

The uncle recalled that when Rooksana visited South Africa more than a decade ago, she had been concerned about safety there but felt very differently about New Zealand.

“She told me she could leave her house unlocked and just go to the beach,” he recalled.

Govinden remains in a secure psychiatric facility while the court-ordered assessments are conducted.

The allegations against him have not been tested in court.

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