Neighbour of suspected Glenelg murder-suicide Norman Schueard shocked to hear of battling mate’s death

An elderly man killed in a suspected murder-suicide that shocked a quiet Glenelg North neighbourhood had been battling cancer for years, it can be revealed.

An elderly man killed in a suspected murder-suicide in Glenelg North had undergone cancer treatment for years but seemed to have it “under control”, a shocked neighbour has revealed.

Brian Scherr, 88, was found dead in his Kibby Ave home about 1.30pm Tuesday.

Less than 15 hours later, at 4.10am Wednesday, police were again at the quiet residential street where Mr Scherr’s son Peter, 63, was found dead.

A brief police statement said the elder man’s cause of death was not immediately apparent, and an investigation was launched.

That continued through much of Wednesday after the discovery of the younger man’s body inside the same home.

Police are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide.

All signs the Glenelg North home was being treated as a crime scene have been removed, with front blinds drawn and the quiet suburban street seemingly back to normal.

But neighbours are still processing what little information they have about the deaths of Brian and his son, Peter.

Major Crime investigators were at this Glenelg North home after two bodies were found in a suspected murder-suicide. Picture Dean Martin.

Norman Schueard got to know his older neighbour well over the years, sharing a back fence and having regular, friendly catch-ups.

He said Brian’s son Peter and his wife moved in about three or four months ago.

“He (Brian) lived on his own until probably the last three or four months when I think his son and daughter-in-law moved in,” Mr Schueard said.

“I met her, I only spoke to him (Peter) on one occasion.

“She was very pleasant. I only spoke to him for a few moments over the fence when I heard a bit of noise.

“I thought it might have been Brian and poked my head over the fence.”

But it was his son hosing blinds on the back of the home, and some water sprayed over the fence.

“He apologised for that,” Mr Schueard said.

When police initially knocked on his door, Mr Schueard said he got the impression officers were investigating another home invasion in the area.

But he later learned his long-term neighbour had died on Tuesday, and his son’s body was found about 15 hours later.

“I was going to have a look over the fence because it came from that side to see what it was, but I thought better not be nosy, and I didn’t think any more of it,” he said.

Mr Schueard said his friend and neighbour was originally from Brisbane, and backed the Lions in the AFL.

“He had cancer and was being treated for that in Sydney for a number of years, but I think it was under control,” he said.

“He still seemed all right when I last spoke to him, but that was three or four months ago now.

“He was a nice guy. Very friendly. I used to hang over the fence and chat to him.

“He came down from Brisbane, I think he was a controller or something on airports working in the tower.”

Norman Schueard got along well with his deceased Neighbour Brian Scherr Picture Dean Martin.

The deaths have rocked the neighbourhood, with several neighbours reporting two people left the house for a walk about 4.20pm on Tuesday, after the coroner had first attended.

Keith Miller, 74, said he overheard them say the older man had been feeling unwell that morning and had gone back to bed after breakfast

Originally published as Neighbour of suspected Glenelg murder-suicide Norman Schueard shocked to hear of battling mate’s death