A 47-year-old man has been charged with three counts of domestic violence-related murder after the bodies of a woman and two children were discovered at a home in Campbelltown, south-west Sydney. The accused, who was the full-time carer of the boys, allegedly killed his 46-year-old wife and their sons, aged 12 and four, who had learning difficulties.
Police were called to the property on Monday night following a triple zero call made from the home at approximately 7:50 pm. Officers arrested the man at the scene and took him to Campbelltown police station. He was charged early Tuesday morning and did not appear at a subsequent hearing at Campbelltown Local Court.
The accused's lawyer, Jawad Hosain, stated that his client was not applying for bail and had not yet entered a plea. Magistrate Don McLennan formally refused bail, adjourning the case until 15 July, when the man is expected to appear via videolink. Hosain described his client as “pretty distressed at the moment” and called the incident “a tragic set of circumstances for the victims, the community and the family of the victims.”
Acting Superintendent Michael Moroney confirmed that all four individuals were known to each other and described the scene as “particularly violent.” The victims were found in various areas of the home, and police recovered items of interest related to the injuries sustained. No firearms were found, and the accused was not previously known to police. Moroney added that the man had called triple zero to report an incident and request police attendance.
The community has been left in shock, with flowers placed at the scene and neighbours expressing devastation. Premier Chris Minns said he was “devastated” by the deaths, noting ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence despite such tragedies.
