Add The New York Post on Google An eyewitness has described the moment she saw a horror crime scene in which three children and a woman were all stabbed in the Blue Mountains of Australia.
A 45-year-old woman, who is believed to be the mother of the three children and is the main “suspect” in the case, was found with self-inflicted stab wounds.
Police have confirmed that a 5-year-old child has died while the two other children have been wounded.
Julie Sukkar told Nine News that one of the injured children was a baby.
“I just saw a woman laying in the bushes and I just saw a baby in a car seat and there was another woman trying to help that baby,” she said.
“There was another child on the other side. I didn’t realize there were three in there and they were all just trying to help.”
Another witness added: “It’s just so sickening.”
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna told news.com.au that the woman involved was the mother of the children and a suspect in the case.
“We believe her injuries are self inflicted,” he added.
“The investigation is less than 24 hours old so we need to let it play out. She, herself and the two other children are still listed as critical.”
Police confirmed the father of the children had been notified. It is believed he was at work when police notified him of the tragedy and raced to the scene.
Passing cyclists stumbled upon the horrific scene and performed first aid on the four while contacting triple-0.
The two other children, both aged under five, and the mother have been taken to Westmead Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in critical conditions.
Deputy Commissioner McKenna said police would look to charge the mother with homicide “if she recovers” from her injuries.
He said it was his understanding that the alleged violence unfolded where the car was parked, at the entrance to a vacant block near a fire trail in the small town of Valley Heights.
“I understand it was a random location,” Deputy Commissioner McKenna said.
“We will allege that’s where the mother of the children has stopped the vehicle and by the crime scene, it appears it happened at that location.
“I don’t have any rationale or reason as to why that was that location.”
Deputy Commissioner McKenna said the horrible crime scene that greeted officers on Sunday formed part of “the most tragic 48 hours” he has seen in his career.
In all cases, the alleged offenders were unknown to police.
“None of these relationships were known to us for any domestic violence, no AVOs (Apprehended Violence Orders) in place at all, none were on our radar for this type of violence,” McKenna said.
“We can’t prevent what we don’t know about, but this is an example it can happen anywhere, anytime. That’s why we need people in the community to keep eyes and ears open if any concerns about anyone to let us know.”
McKenna said that in all four crime scenes lives were taken with “edged weapons” by someone related to the victims, police will allege.
McKenna said police officers who rushed to Waratah Rd., Valley Heights on Sunday morning were involved in helping to save the lives of all injured people at a terribly confronting scene.
“There were four different matters all with tragic outcomes and it started on Saturday near Wagga where a 31-year-old male, we will allege, has murdered his 23 year-old defacto girlfriend by use of an edged weapon,” McKenna said
The man has been charged with one count of domestic murder.
“The horror then moved to Bondi Beach, where we will allege a 47-year-old grandson has again used an edge weapon to kill his 90-year-old grandmother,” McKenna said.
He has also been charged with one count of domestic murder.
“We go to Mole River near Tenterfield where a 37-year-old male, we will allege, has used an edged weapon to kill his 70-year-old mother.”
He has also been charged with one count of domestic murder.
McKenna said domestic violence remained the “number one priority” for NSW Police.
“If anyone feels trapped in a relationship and no way out, please know there is,” he said.
“You can call police or you can call 1-800-RESPECT or any of the various domestic violence support services out there because there is always help available and we want to help people, it’s why we come to work every day.”
McKenna said the police officers called to each scene would have welfare support “wrapped around them.”
“This weekend has been nothing short of horrific. Each of the scenes individually were really confronting.
“I know it’s not about the police, but certainly we are wrapping welfare around our officers who attended these scenes who in some cases have been hands-on trying to save lives – as with the children.
“You wouldn’t be human if these sorts of things don’t affect you. The fact of the matter is we come to work every day to try to prevent domestic violence and help people and we are as equally horrified and upset as everyone else in the community.”
Tabitha Acret, whose daughter Mackenzie Anderson was stabbed 78 times by her ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson, told news.com.au the weekend had been “horrific” and highlighted how bad domestic violence is in Australia.
“And it isn’t limited to intimate partner violence. We saw sons allegedly murdering a mother, grandson allegedly murdering his grandmother, an alleged partner murder and children allegedly murdered.
“It’s the worst weekend on record and it highlights the horror of domestic violence.
“We need real funding ASAP – we need money to keep people safe but we also need real money into prevention.”
