A father known to police for domestic violence murdered his son and then took his own life after being allowed to make a visitation with the child.
The 38-year-old man and two-year-old boy were found dead in a unit on College Street in East Lismore, on NSW’s far north coast, about 9.45pm on Sunday after police were called to conduct a welfare check.
Assistant Commissioner for Emergency Management Peter Thurtell said the man was known to police for previous domestic violence cases but not for “significant problems”.
He said the mother lived in the local community with her son, who was an only child, and the father had a visitation on Sunday.
‘The mother was worried [to police] with the fact that they were going to hand over the child at 4:30 p.m. and by 5:30 p.m. she had contacted the police and we went to the home and made the discovery,” said Deputy Commissioner Thurtell.
Deputy Emergency Management Commissioner Peter Thurtell is pictured addressing the media on Monday
Deputy Commissioner Thurtell said investigators know how the couple died and that no weapon was involved.
“The father created a system where both he and the child died as a result of the system he set up,” he said.
‘You will not encounter a more tragic event.’
It is understood the child’s mother had a warrant out for the father’s arrest.
A small red tricycle could be seen in the carport as detectives and forensic teams searched the two-bedroom unit on Monday.
A local woman called Lucy said she met the ‘sweet’ and ‘shy’ boy when the family moved to the property about six months ago.
Forensic teams are pictured at the unit on College Street in East Lismore, on NSW’s Far North Coast, on Monday
“When they first moved in, they saw my cat and they came over and played with him… he was a little shy, the boy, but he just wanted to play with my cat,” she said ABC news.
Lucy said many residents of the area have only recently returned after devastating floods ravaged the region in 2022.
“I came back a year after the floods and it has taken a lot longer for some other places to be renovated and have tenants back,” she said.
While investigations continue, anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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