Alan Culverwell death: Two charged with murder after father shot dead on boat during Panama pirate raid

Wife and daughter were also hurt during attack as family enjoyed dream sailing adventure from US back home to New Zealand

Derryn Culverwell arrives at the court hearing in Colon, Panama (REUTERS)

Two men have been charged with murdering a New Zealand father who was shot dead after pirates boarded his family boat off the coast of Panama.

Leandro Herrera and Avelino Arosemena are accused of killing Alan Culverwell while his yacht was docked off the country's north eastern Guna Yala shore line.

His wife Derryn and 11-year-old daughter Briar were also hurt in last week's attack, prosecutor Tatiana Aguilar told a courthouse in the port city of Colon.

Briar's twin brother Flynn managed to escape the ordeal unhurt.

Mr Culverwell, 60, is understood to have been sleeping below deck with his family when he heard a noise on the yacht's roof. When he went up to check on the cause, he was fatally shot.

In the ensuing tussle, his wife was slashed with a machete but managed to lock herself and the children below cabin, while the pirates made off with the vessel’s outboard engine, prosecutors said.

A third suspect, a minor, also appeared in court in connection with the case but it is not clear if he is to be charged with murder.

The Culverwell’s had sold their house in the Marlborough Sounds region of New Zealand's South Island, and purchased the 65 ft yacht from a seller in Florida in the US.

They were sailing it back to their home country - making numerous stops along the way - when they were attacked.

Mr Culverwell’s sister, Derryn Hughes told the New Zealand Herald newspaper he was a loving husband, father and adventurer.

She said: “His family were his everything.”