Man charged with murder of a mother and son in Rosewater

Neighbours have described hearing a loud bang in the hours before a mother and son were found dead in a Rosewater home.

A man will face court on Monday charged with murder after the bodies of a mother and son were found with “significant injuries” inside their home at Rosewater.

Police were called to a home in Rosetta St, at 1.20pm on Saturday, after Antoinette Tozer, 76, and her son, Steve Tozer, 55, were found dead by concerned relatives.

A short time later, police arrested a 43-year-old man, of no fixed address, who had been residing across the road from the house. He was interviewed by detectives and charged with two counts of murder.

Police say no other suspects are being sought at this time and the incident is not believed to be random.

Police suspect the alleged murder occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police outside the Rosetta St home on Sunday morning. Picture: Eva Blandis

Police at the scene where a 76-year-old woman and 55-year-old man have been murdered in their home at 2 Rosetta St, Rosewater. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Assistant Commissioner Graham Goodwin said a family member of Mrs and Mr Tozer called police after discovering the bodies.

“The daughter of the deceased mother and the sister of the deceased male (was) concerned,” Mr Goodwin said. “She came around with her daughter … and were confronted with the horrific scenes.”

Assistant Commissioner Goodwin said it was suspected the man and the deceased pair were known to each other, but a motive remains unclear.

More than 10 police cars attended the Rosetta St home as forensic teams examined the scene.

The intersection of Rosetta St and Edith St was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

A neighbour – who has asked to remain anonymous – said she had lived in the neighbourhood for 25 years and was familiar with Mr Tozer. “I haven’t seen the mother but I know Steve, in fact, I thought he was the only one living in the house,” she said. “I’ve seen him here, he would ride his bike or walk in front of my house regularly.”

The neighbour claims to have heard ominous sounds early on Saturday morning from her courtyard outside.

A 43-year-old man was arrested over the deaths of his neighbours at Rosewater. Police say the 76-year-old woman and her 55-year-old son suffered ‘significant injuries’. Picture:7News

Police at the scene. Picture:7News

“Before going to bed around 1am I stepped into my courtyard and I heard something like an argument,” the neighbour said.

“I could hear a male voice saying ‘no’ several times and I also heard a loud bang but that could have been firecrackers.”

Charles Crossley, 67, a resident of the area, was shocked to learn about the deaths. Mr Crossley said apart from some loud music occasionally at night their street is very quiet.

“I used to work around here and I would walk past these houses at night and I could hear music, (it) was just ‘boom, boom, boom’,” he said.

“This street is just so quiet and nothing like this has ever happened before.

“I think it’s disgusting, I can’t comprehend it at all, I really can’t.”

Relatives and emotional friends attended the property and broke down in tears after speaking with police