John Edward Tilly Griffin, 28, charged with murdering Gary Robinson, 66

The identity of the man charged with murdering a 66-year-old man on a rural property on the Eyre Peninsula has been revealed as he faces court for the first time.

The man charged with murdering Gary Robinson, 66, on a rural property on the Eyre Peninsula has faced court.

John Edward Tilly Griffin, 28, appeared briefly in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from the police cells in Port Lincoln and did not apply for bail.

It is alleged he killed Mr Robinson - who was living in a caravan - between August 31 and September 4 at a 1300 acre property on North Coast Rd on the outskirts of the coastal community of Port Neill.

Police prosecutors sought a 14 week adjournment to gather evidence.

Magistrate Simon Smart remanded Mr Griffin in custody to next appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court in December.

Mr Robinson’s body was located inside the caravan after the alarm was raised around 4.40pm on Saturday.

Griffin was arrested by police a short time later near Chandler Rd.

Locals in the town of Port Neill have been left stunned by the violent crime.

John Griffin, accused of murdering Gary Robinson in Port Neill. Picture: Facebook

Major crime speaking to neighbouring properties at Port Neill, South Australia, after a man was found dead in a caravan on a property. Picture: Todd Lewis

The scene of a murder at Port Neill. Picture: Todd Lewis

The Advertiser understands the men were known to each other and were seen together in the town last week.

Mr Robinson had only recently returned to Port Neill after he was released from prison in the Northern Territory after serving 12 months of a three year sentence for drug trafficking.

In Feburary 2020, Mr Robinson attempted to take 3.8kg of cannabis from Port Neill to Alice Springs, but was arrested by police just 40 kilometres short of his destination.

One local said he returned to town and started living in a rental, but was evicted after failing to meet rent payments.

“He wasn’t very popular,” a resident said.

He moved into the caravan a short time later on the North Coast Rd property.

A resident at the property refused to answer questions.

Some Port Neill residents were struggling to come to terms with the news Griffin had been arrested for the crime.

It is understood the Griffin family is well-known in the town having lived there for several decades.

The incident comes 14 years after the town was rocked by a murder-suicide.

In November 2008, a 52-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were found shot dead in a farmhouse on a rural property on the town’s outskirts.