West Lakes murder-suicide: Neighbours say father was recently diagnosed with cancer

Neighbours of a man who stabbed his son in a murder-suicide say they believe he had been diagnosed with a serious illness and that it was a “terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy”.

Neighbours of a man who killed his adult son in a murder-suicide over the weekend say he had spoken of his ailing health in the months leading up to the tragedy.

Neville Leworthy, 72, stabbed his son Wayne, 46, to death, before turning the blade on himself at their West Lakes home on Saturday afternoon.

Wayne lived with a severe disability and used a wheelchair.

Wayne Leworthy, pictured, and his father, Neville, were found dead on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

The bodies of the pair were found in the garage when Neville’s wife, Wayne’s mother, returned to the Allerdice Court home about 1.30pm.

Peter Rusby and Jan Oates, who live two doors down, said a large group of police had descended on the street a short time later.

Ms Oates, 79, said she had been devastated to learn of the “terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy”.

She said Mr Leworthy had in the past few months spoken about “not being well”, while other neighbours believed he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Neighbour Peter Rusby at West Lakes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Neighbour Angela Grimaldi. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

She remembered Mr Leworthy as “a great guy” who was committed to the care of his son.

“This was hideous but he was as much the victim as the doer of the deed,” she said.

“We don’t know what went on, we can only guess.

“I remember one day we were walking home and he was out the front in the sun and he said he was drying off because he had just given his son a shower, which would have drenched him, of course. He would have had to hold him.”

Ms Oates said Mr Leworthy had been passionate about his two Harley Davidson motorcycles, and involved with a local motorcycle group.

“He just polished them within an inch of their lives, and apparently with one of them he had a special seat made so he could take Wayne out in it,” she said.

Neighbour Laura Frederickson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Detectives and police at the scene of the murder-suicide at West Lakes. Picture: Dean Martin

Angela Grimaldi, 46, who lives across the road, said Mr Leworthy hadn’t been looking happy.

“He didn’t seem happy ... so I sort of didn’t push the ‘good mornings’ on him because he just didn’t look like he was in a good place,” she said.

“(The family) kept to themselves … I would walk past and I’d see the father out the front. I’d also see him, from time to time, with the disabled son.”

Ms Grimaldi said the murder-suicide had upset her and other neighbours.

“Throughout the afternoon and evening, us neighbours sort of all got together and had a bit of a chat and a bit of a cry as well,” she said.

Laura Frederickson, who lives across the road, said that when leaving home on Saturday afternoon she had seen a woman standing out in the driveway.

“Obviously, I had no idea what had happened so I didn’t think anything of it but now thinking back on it, it clicks to me that she must have been on the phone to the police, which is very sad to see,” she said.

“If I had known I would have pulled over and said something or given her a hug.”

She said her mum had spoken to the family a few times, and they “seemed very lovely”.

“It was very sad to hear,” she said.

“It was just very heart aching and it was hard on all of the neighbours, it’s been very quiet the last few days. No one is outside.”