A child was allegedly ‘wrestled’ from the arms of a dad accused of lighting his home on fire in a blaze that killed three of his children and seriously injured four others and his partner.
The 28-year-old allegedly barricaded his partner, 29, and their seven kids inside their housing commission home in Lalor Park, in Sydney’s west, at about 1am on Sunday and set it on fire.
Emergency services raced to the home and removed six of the children and both adults. The charred remains of a five-month-old girl were later found.
Two boys, aged six and two, died shortly after being taken to hospital while their four siblings, aged between four and 11, are now in a stable condition.
The father, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has woken up in hospital and faced Parramatta Local Court on a slew of charges on Thursday for the first time.
In court, he was barred from contacting any of the survivors.
He was refused bail and is expected to appear before Penrith local court on September 6 for three counts of murder (DV), five counts of attempted murder (DV) and also destroying/damaging property with intent to endanger life (DV).
Homicide Squad commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, told the media on Thursday that the father had woken up from an induced coma and been charged by police.
Mr Doherty said he ‘understands that three of his children have been died as a result of this house fire and he understands he’s been charged for those offenses’.
‘I can’t really talk too much because now it’s before the court in relation to what he said but he has spoken and communicated,’ he said.
The accused had difficulty speaking after suffering from smoke inhalation but has ‘recovered fairly well’, according to Mr Doherty.
Police will allege that the father is ‘solely responsible for setting fire’ inside the home and used accelerant throughout the home, creating an ‘explosive situation’.
He is also alleged to have locked the bedroom doors shortly after starting a fire inside the room, trapping those inside.
‘We’ve alleged that there is some type of domestic argument or dispute that may have led to this incident happening and unfolded into this horrendous, murderous act,’ Mr Doherty said, adding that police are ‘still putting all that together’.
The heartbroken mother returned to the tattered home shortly after being released from hospital and helped recount the incident to police and investigators.
‘(She was) obviously devastated and heartbroken but was supported through the walk-through,’ Mr Doherty said.
The accused had difficulty speaking after suffering from smoke inhalation but had ‘recovered fairly well’.
Mr Doherty said police will also allege the father had attempted to hinder the efforts of emergency services and Good-Samaritan neighbours trying to save his children.
‘They (allegedly) had to wrestle with this man and wrestle the (11-year-old) boy from his grasp because he was holding on to him,’ Mr Doherty said.
‘The boy was rescued and then man was after some resistance and was arrested as well.’
The local community have helped provided support for the tattered family, including financial, housing and support services.
‘Out of these tragic circumstances we see that good people rise to the surface and they’re getting as much assistance as I can,’ Mr Doherty said.
Police have been interviewing a number of witnesses who have come forward after the incident as investigations into the blaze remain ongoing.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.