Friends pay tribute to murdered West Pennant Hills siblings Jack and Jennifer Edwards
FRIENDS of slain siblings Jack and Jennifer Edwards have today paid tribute to the pair, many laying flowers at the West Pennant Hills home where they were killed by their estranged father John Edwards.
GRIEF-stricken school friends and locals have today left flowers and handwritten tributes outside a home in Sydney’s north where two teenagers were murdered.
Jack Edwards 15, and his sister Jennifer, 13, were at their West Pennant Hills home on Thursday afternoon when their father, John Edwards, turned up and shot them dead in a bedroom.
He later shot himself dead at his Normanhurst home.
Students from Jennifer’s school, Gosford High School, left handwritten notes, while others have placed candles at the scene.
Jade Davis, who lives around the corner, left a bunch of flowers at the house this morning.
Her younger sister went to Pennant Hills High School with Jack.
“She said a lot of teachers who taught him were completely distraught yesterday,” Ms Davis said.
“A lot of his friends were crying throughout the day. Some of them only found out after turning up at school.
“My sister said he was a lovely boy, always so nice, caring and funny.
“It’s just devastating.”
Peggy Deng, who was in Year 8 at Gosford High School with Jennifer said she was an extremely intelligent student and keen ice skater.
“She always had a laugh every day with us,” the 14-year-old said.
Peggy said Jennifer didn’t speak to her about her father, only confirming her parents had divorced.
“Despite all these problems she always kept a smile on her face,” Peggy said.
Sean Allen played AFL with Jack a few years ago for the Pennant Hills Demons.
“He was a very nice guy, a pretty good football player,” he said.
“He was always kicking a ball around. We were so disgusted (when we heard what happened).
“He was so young, we didn’t know what was happening in his life.”
Detectives have been in and out of the Hull Road home all day and escorted two people into the house before midday.
Mr Edwards, 68, had been banned from seeing his children and was not meant to know where they lived following a two-year custody battle.
It was revealed today Mr Edwards obtained a firearms licence last year.
He obtained two handguns earlier this year and had been attending the St Mary’s Indoor Shooting Centre in recent months.
He was involved with the club despite being knocked back from joining at least three gun clubs on the north shore.
It is understood the former financial adviser went to the St Marys shooting centre and picked up the handguns shortly before carrying out the shooting.
“The St Mary’s Indoor Shooting Centre can confirm its staff have assisted police with inquiries relating to the tragic shooting deaths of two teenagers at West Pennant Hills on Thursday,” a spokesman said.
“Management, staff and volunteers of the Centre join with the community in expressing our deepest condolences to family and friends affected by this shocking event.”
Originally published as Friends pay tribute to murdered West Pennant Hills siblings Jack and Jennifer Edwards