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Police in Barrydale says a local woman who was found dead on a hiking trail on Monday was murdered.
Spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie says their investigation changed to that of murder following the result of an autopsy.
He says the preliminary result of the autopsy conducted on the remains of the 66-year-old Erna Gericke indicates that the wound she sustained to her hand and forearm was probably caused by a heavy calibre rifle and that she had died as a result of the blood she lost after the attack.
Captain Pojjie says based on these findings, detectives at Barrydale expanded their investigation which led to the recovery of the firearm, a 303 rifle, that was allegedly used to shoot Gericke.
Police initially suspected that she had died from injuries whilst hiking and suspected no foul play at the time.
Two men, however, were arrested after they were found driving around in Gerricke's vehicle.
They made their first appearance in the Barrydale Magistrates Court on Thursday.
An additional charge of murder will now be added to their charge sheets.
Captain Pojie says more charges could be added for housebreaking and possession of firearms and ammunition.
Gericke went hiking at lunchtime on Sunday and parked her car near Rondomskrik in Barrydale.
When she did not return home by the evening, her husband reported her missing.
Her "badly injured" body was found about 6-kilometres into the trail in the early hours of Monday morning.
