Shock new details: Mum charged with murder of her two sons

Police will allege a Blue Mountains mother murdered her two sons within a 17-hour window before the discovery of their bodies.

Police will allege Blue Mountains mother Trish Smith murdered her two sons within a 17-hour window, before the discovery of their bodies.

Ben and Russell Smith, aged nine and 11, were found dead inside their Faulconbridge home on Tuesday, after their father Nick made a concern-for-welfare call to police.

When officers arrived, they found the deceased boys and then their mother in a critical condition due to self-inflicted wounds.

Smith spent four days in Westmead Hospital under police guard before she was charged with two counts of murder on Friday night.

In documents tendered to Parramatta Court on Saturday, it is alleged Smith killed Russell and Ben sometime between 7.30pm on Tuesday and 12.30pm on Wednesday, with police still piecing together exactly what happened within the 17-hour period.

Nick, Russell, Ben and Trish Smith at church.

She was transferred to Amber Laurel Correctional Centre on Friday and spent her first night in prison before appearing at Parramatta Court via video link on Saturday.

Smith sat in a cell in a hospital gown, with a huge cast stretching from her fingers to her elbow on her left arm.

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A scratch across her nose was briefly visible in the few seconds she acknowledged the magistrate, before she bowed her head for the proceedings.

While she was composed, Smith looked dishevelled as she shuffled in and out.

Three women, understood to be her friends, sat holding hands and staring at the mother, the first time she has been seen since she was arrested.

‘There’s a lot of people hurting’: Paul McGirr, lawyer for Trish Smith, leaves Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Her lawyer Paul McGirr made no application for bail and the case was adjourned until November.

Ms Smith answered: “Yes” when asked if she understood what was going on, but otherwise did not speak.

Outside court, Mr McGirr said the situation was an ­“absolute tragedy”.

“There’s a lot of people hurting,” he said.

“At this stage I can’t say anything more in relation to what’s going to happen with the matter until we get all the material.

“There’s a lot of family members who are really hurting in respect of this – parents, grandparents and the like.

Trish Smith was taken to Westmead Hospital under police guard in a stable condition with self-inflicted wounds after the bodies of her sons were found.

“Right from emergency services who had to attend the scene, there’d be a lot of people out who have been subjected to this, we’ve got to let the course take its natural course in respect of getting the paperwork and going from there.”

The boys’ father Nick said he was suffering an “unimaginable pain”.

“Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys and were very much loved by their family and friends,” he said.

“Like other boys their age, they loved sports, soccer, the Penrith Panthers, fishing, books, music, spending time with their friends and Max their pup.

“We cannot understand how our boys have been taken this way and we appreciate the kindness and compassion shown by the community.”

Smith will remain in custody until court in November.
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