Boolaroo teen charged with 10yo sister’s stabbing murder

Police will allege the 17-year-old stabbed her younger sibling multiple times in an attack inside the family’s Lake Macquarie home while another relative had left the house to go shopping. She has been charged with murder.

Police say they are at a loss to understand such a “violent act” which allegedly saw a 10-year-old girl stabbed to death by her own sister at their Lake Macquarie home, claiming it was “completely out of the blue”.

A 17-year-old girl has faced court charged with the alleged stabbing murder of her younger sibling while the pair were home alone inside the family house at Boolaroo on a quiet suburban street on Monday afternoon.

The girl was arrested at the scene after calling triple-0 following the alleged attack while a relative had left the home to go shopping.

Lake Macquarie detectives will allege the girl was stabbed multiple times inside the home.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 3.45pm where paramedics worked feverishly to save the young girl.

However, she died at the scene.

Police and Forensic Investigators on scene at the home. Picture: Adam Yip / NCA NewsWire

Police said they did not believe the death was mental health related and confirmed that they had not had any “interactions” with either girl before they were called to the scene on Monday.

“There’s no indications from the information we have to indicate why this occurred, this is completely out of the blue,” homicide squad commander, Det Supt Danny Doherty, said.

Police have set up a crime scene after the stabbing death of a 10 year old girl. Photo Jeremy Piper

“My thoughts go out to a mother at home having lost a 10-year-old and now has another daughter facing court allegedly responsible. This is a terrible situation for her to be in.

“This is very hard for them to imagine, I can’t imagine how much grief they are going through.”

On Tuesday morning, detectives canvassed the area and spoke to devastated neighbours who described the scenes as disturbing.

Police and Forensic Investigators at the crime scene. Picture: Adam Yip / NCA NewsWire

Det Supt Doherty confirmed it was an “isolated” incident in what has been a distressing start to the year with multiple stabbings that have gripped the nation.

“Have seen at the start of this year a large number of acts of violence that resulted in people dead and a lot of them have been females so it’s a reflection not on this community but society in general,” he said.

“We’re not policy makers, we’re not politicians, we have to mindful what we can say but we’re investigating the aftermath of another what will be alleged a violent act.

“It’s unthinkable this could happen to a 10-year-old. It is a very sensitive investigation as you can imagine.”

Lake Macquarie district commander Supt Tracey Chapman said yesterday’s event had been shocking to everyone.

Police have set up a crime scene after the stabbing death of a 10 year old girl. Photo Jeremy Piper

“This is clearly a tragic set of circumstances and our thoughts go out to the families and also the broader community who will be impacted by this,” she said.

The 17-year-old was due to face Broadmeadow Children’s Court on Tuesday but her solicitor did not require her to be brought up from the cells.

Magistrate Andrew Eckhold reminded the large media contingent present in court of Section 15A of the Children’s Criminal Procedures Act banning the reporting of anything that could identify a young person who is the subject of legal proceedings.

The girl’s solicitor did not apply for bail and her matter was adjourned to June 24 where she will appear via video link.

Mr Eckhold ordered the police brief of evidence to be served by June 20.

The police prosecutor lodged a number of “forensic procedures applications” which were adjourned to June 3 when parties will again be able to appear via video link.

The alleged murder has prompted widespread shock throughout Lake Macquarie and the wider Hunter Region.

A crime scene was established and forensic experts worked through Monday night to gather evidence at the scene, with the street where the family home was situated blocked off to traffic.

The scene remained eerily quiet on Tuesday morning as neighbours went about their usual business after hearing the haunting news that left a 10-year-old girl dead.

The street was still cordoned off by police as locals said they couldn’t fathom the “nightmare” that had just happened doors down from them.

One neighbour, who had lived in the area for three years, said usually it was “so quiet” in the suburban Lake Macquarie street.

Devastated for the mother at the centre of the incident, she said it was frightening to see it happening in “our backyard”.

The Daily Telegraph understands the home where the child was allegedly stabbed to death was a rental, with the owners of the property from Sydney.

Just a few houses down, Cindy said she never much saw the children at the home, but everything “looked normal” and was saddened by the tragedy that had just unfolded so close by.