A 61-year-old doctor has been remanded in custody in Hobart after being charged with the murder of his elderly mother.

Police allege 88-year-old Nelda Edwards died in her Sandy Bay home on March 4 after being administered medication and that her son Stephen Edwards travelled to Hobart in the days before her death.

In his brief appearance on Sunday morning, supporters of Edwards were in the special sitting of Hobart magistrates court and called out to him as he was led away.

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The GP was arrested at his practice in Woy Woy on the New South Wales Central Coast on Friday and extradited to Tasmania, arriving in Hobart on Saturday night.

According to his profile on the practice’s website, Edwards had returned from Sydney to practice in Tasmania for five years before moving to Woy Woy in 2012.

It also states Edwards has an interest in palliative care and geriatrics and has worked in hospices and nursing homes.

His arrest followed an investigation by Tasmanian detectives, which involved searching several properties in New South Wales.

It has been a particularly tragic year for the Edwards family.

Edwards’ brother Glendon died in February and his father David died just two days before his mother.

There is no indication Edwards had anything to do with the death of his brother and father.

Edwards will face court again in Hobart on Monday.