In short:
A 28-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder after three of his children died in a house fire.
A two-year-old and six-year-old boy and a five-month-old girl were killed.
What’s next?
He did not apply for bail and his case was adjourned until September 6.
A 28-year-old man has been charged with several offences, including three counts of murder, over a fire in Western Sydney that killed three children.
The man’s case was heard in Parramatta Local Court this morning, where he was represented by a lawyer and did not appear via video link from hospital.
He did not apply for bail and his case was adjourned until September 6.
His lawyer declined to comment outside court.
Emergency services responded to a home in Lalor Park about 1am on Sunday following reports of the house fire.
A two-year-old and six-year-old boy and a five-month-old girl were killed.
They are yet to be formally identified and post-mortem examinations to determine cause of death are underway.
The man – who is the father of the children – is also facing five counts of attempted domestic violence murder.
The mother of the children, three boys and a nine-year-old girl escaped the house fire.
The 29-year-old woman has since been discharged from hospital and the four children remain in stable conditions.
The family have been offered counselling and emergency accommodation through the homicide victim’s support group.
Officers who responded to the fire have been provided counselling.
Police will allege man was ‘solely responsible’ for lighting fires
The man remains under police guard at Westmead Hospital.
Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty told a media conference on Thursday the man had been taken off sedation after suffering smoke inhalation and burns.
“He has spoken and communicated. He recovered fairly well,” he said.
“He understands that three of his children have died as a result of this house fire, and he understands he’s been charged with those nine offences.”
Superintendent Doherty said police will allege the man was “solely responsible” for lighting fires inside the home.
“We are looking at an accelerant being used inside those premises which has created a large amount of fire and smoke,” he said.
Superintendent Doherty alleged the man lit fires “in the bedroom” before setting fire to other sections of the house.
“We will allege that the doors had been locked and, as a result of that, prevented those inside — the occupants — to escape the fire,” he said.
“It’s one of the worst cases of [alleged] filicide we have in New South Wales in recent memory.”
Neighbour tried to save children
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Neighbour Jarrod Hawkins ran into the burning home after hearing children yelling for help.
Mr Hawkins said he struggled to see past a thick layer of smoke once he got through the front door.
“I then heard kids coughing and yelling to my right,” he said.
Mr Hawkins continued to try and rescue the children from the back of the house even after police and firefighters had arrived.
“Those kids were unreal, very happy, full of energy, just typical kids,” he said.
Superintendent Doherty said police would allege the man tried to prevent Mr Hawkins and responding officers from helping an 11-year-old boy.
He alleged that responding officers had to “wrestle the boy from his grasp”.
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