Father accused of stabbing son to death had been treated at two mental health facilities
A FATHER accused of stabbing his five-year-old son to death had fronted up at a Sydney hospital two days earlier worried about his mental stability. But he was not admitted.
NSW
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A FATHER accused of stabbing his five-year-old son to death had fronted up at a Sydney hospital two days earlier worried about his mental stability. But for reasons that are not yet clear, he was not admitted.
The man, who has not been identified, allegedly murdered his son on Friday, stabbing him repeatedly as he lay in bed. He was arrested soon after.
Police will allege he waited until his partner left their home in Carlingford, in Sydney’s northwest, before attacking their son.
During a lengthy police interview he told officers he believed his son was “the devil”.
In recent months the 36-year-old man had been treated at two mental health facilities.
Police have been told that on Wednesday he went voluntarily to Hornsby Hospital seeking treatment.
A Northern Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman said yesterday: “This is a shocking tragedy and Northern Sydney Local Health District extends its condolences to the family and friends of this little boy.
“Further comment is inappropriate as the matter is being investigated by police and a report is being prepared for the Coroner.”
The accused, a mechanic by trade, has no recent violent criminal history and a police source confirmed Family and Community Services had not been involved with the family.
The boy’s grandmother had gone to the house to take the mother to work. When she returned about 7am, she found her grandson with stab wounds.
In a desperate attempt to save him, the 60-year-old woman bundled the boy into her car and drove from the house.
When she realised how seriously he was hurt, she pulled over and called for help.
An ambulance rushed the boy to Westmead Hospital under police escort but he died less than an hour later.
Staring at the screen from Amber Laurel jail, where he is being held on remand, at one point he asked: “Where am I?”
With his eyes shut for long periods he did not respond to questions from the magistrate.
Police prosecutor Lisa McEvoy asked for an order that the father not contact any witnesses.
“Family members would be the primary concern,” she said.
The magistrate asked for a prison officer to escort him from the room because he wasn’t moving. He did not apply for bail and the case was adjourned until July 30 in Parramatta Local Court.
The child’s grandfather described him as “a beautiful boy and much loved”.
He said there was “more to come” but that his lawyer had instructed him not to comment.
Natalee Lewin, a neighbour who regularly spoke to the father, said: “There was no sign whatsoever this was going to happen.”
However, Ms Lewin did notice a change in the father’s behaviour.
“The father had been in hospital for a couple of weeks then at home for the last month,” she said.
“Normally he chats but these last four weeks, he’d go for a walk every day but wouldn’t say hello.”