A Sydney father who planned the horrific murder of his two teenage children before taking his own life had been involved in a long-running custody battle, police say.
The body of financial planner John Edwards, 68, was found early on Friday in his Normanhurst home, roughly 4km from where he killed his 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter in their West Pennant Hills home about 5.20pm on Thursday.
Police believe the gunman took his own life very soon after the shooting, which was overheard by neighbours.
“The information we’ve gleaned … leads me to believe this was premeditated and planned,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
“It’s too early to get a full appreciation of what went on in the (West Pennant Hills) premises.”
Mr McFadden described the crime scene at the Hull Rd home as “absolutely horrific”.
Two “quite powerful” handguns, registered in the father’s name sometime this year and used to kill the children, were found at the Normanhurst home, he said.
“A number” of other guns owned by Mr Edwards were also found.
Police say they were “aware” of Mr Edwards, who had been involved in a custody battle with the children’s 36-year-old mother for two years following the breakdown of a long-term relationship.
But the exact nature of that relationship and any violent incidents between the pair were still being investigated.
The mother, who arrived at the house shortly after the Thursday afternoon shooting, was treated by paramedics for severe shock before being taken into the care of friends and police.
“We will be extending that support through additional counselling services today,” Mr McFadden said.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Kevin Sweeney said paramedics were faced with an “extremely distressing and stressful situation”.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au
Top Comments
Whilst I'll admit the family court process is not easy (yes I have experienced it personally) this man murdered his children! There's never an excuse or a good reason for doing that!
Condolences to the poor mother & loved ones.
More blood on the hands of the family court system. The delays are a disgrace. When is the government going to fix this problem?
Even if their case was delayed by a decade or more, that is hardly an excuse to murder one's children.
The blood is completely on the hands of this horrible man! You cannot blame anyone else for the murder of these two children.
Nope. Its on the hands of the man who chose to take matters into his own hands and kill his children and leave the mother alive to suffer. This is purely about her suffering and having control over it.
Blaming the family court system instead of the man who killed them - really?? As though that were the only option available to him?