Secret first family: details emerge of father’s past
POLICE have released the first images of the brother and sister who were shot dead by their dad, as their mother returned home.
THE father responsible for killing his children in their home last week wrote a series of letters to family that were meant to be opened after his death.
It comes as new details emerge on his mysterious past, including a first family which he had left behind.
John Edwards, 68, left a series of letters for family which he handed to a friend days before he committed the double murder then took his own life, The Daily Telegraph revealed. It is not clear what was written inside.
Meanwhile, The Sun Herald revealed Edwards’ slain children, Jack Edwards, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, were part of his second family after splitting from his first wife and two children in 2000 or 2001.
It is understood Edwards did not have contact with his first family.
Fairfax also reported although Edwards had once been the subject to an AVO, there were no apprehended violence orders against him at the present time, thus allowing him to obtain two firearms legally.
Not-for-profit group Gun Control Australia (GCA) has called for new family law firearm safety checks in light of the tragedy. GCA director Samantha Lee says current gun laws fail to adequately protect women and children because they require an AVO to be in place or a charge for a criminal offence before a firearm may be revoked or suspended.
“By then, it may be too late to save a life,” Ms Lee said in a statement to AAP.
The first pictures of the two children were released on Saturday, at the request of their grieving mother Olga Edwards, as she returned home for the first time since the tragic event.
Ms Edwards was seen being escorted by detectives into her rented house where her daughter and son were murdered, on Hull Rd in Sydney’s West Pennant Hills.
A number of tributes were seen outside the home.
Earlier it was revealed the father who killed his teen son and daughter “premeditated and planned” the attack inside their suburban Sydney home.
Edwards, a retired financial planner, entered his estranged wife’s house and shot dead his two children in a bedroom, about 5.30pm on Thursday.
A senior police officer told The Daily Telegraph the children “were trying to hide in a bedroom and were huddled together when he opened fire”.
The newspaper reported that Edwards hired a car to stalk the children so they would not recognise him when he pulled up outside their home.
He timed the chilling attack just before the end of school term when he knew they would be alone and before their mother, Ms Edwards, returned home from work.
Ms Edwards, 36, arrived home soon after to the “horrific scene” and collapsed from “severe shock”, about 6.30pm. Ms Edwards, a solicitor, was understood to be in the care of friends on Friday. Police said the murders were “targeted” and related to domestic violence and came amid a two-year custody battle between Edwards and his wife.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Ms Edwards and her mother, who lives in Russia and is preparing to fly to Sydney to support her daughter.
Edwards has been described as a loner, who was anti-social and abusive to his children.
The gunman’s body was found in a Normanhurst home, about 5km from the scene of the initial killings, about 12 hours after his children were found dead. Edwards lived alone with his dog at the Normanhurst home he bought four years ago.
NSW Police Acting Region Commander Brett McFadden told reporters the couple had been in a long-term relationship. However, that had broken down in recent years and Edwards lived separately from the rest of the family at the Normanhurst address where he died. Edwards — who described himself online as a “certified financial planner” — had owned the Normanhurst house since 2014. News.com.au understands Edwards was self-employed and had been aligned with AMP from 1995 until 2016.
“37 years of experience as a self-employed businessman,” Edwards wrote in his LinkedIn bio.
On social media, Edwards listed himself as a volunteer for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Lions Club International. News.com.au has contacted both organisations but spokespersons said they were unable to yet deny or verify the alleged affiliations.
Jack was a student at Pennant Hills High School. His classmates were informed of his tragic death in an assembly on Friday. A spokesperson for the school referred news.com.au to the NSW Department of Education which declined to comment further. Jennifer attended Gosford High selective school. News.com.au understands the school sent out an email to parents on Friday offering students counselling support services.
The teenagers had been at home by themselves in the moments leading up to their deaths, according to police. Two “quite powerful” pistols used in the shootings — and another two guns — were later recovered from the Normanhurst property.
“The 68-year-old male was the holder of a number of firearms,” Supt McFadden told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
“The two handguns were registered in his name.
“We understand that those handguns came into his possession lawfully earlier this year.
“The information we’ve gleaned … leads me to believe this was premeditated and planned.”
Edwards was previously known to police but his criminal record was from “many years ago” and not “extensive”, according to Supt McFadden.
“The details about the nature of the relationship, particularly in recent times, and the level of access that the 68-year-old had to his children is subject to investigation,” Supt McFadden said.
“I do know there were some custody hearings over the last two years.
“This was a planned activity on the part of the 68-year-old male and we are of the belief that shortly thereafter he has attended the address at Normanhurst and taken his own life.
“It’s too early to get a full appreciation of what went on in the (West Pennant Hills) premises.”
Earlier, Supt McFadden told news.com.au it had not yet been determined how many shots were fired but that police were speaking with several witnesses.
He told reporters the attack was a “very harrowing experience for those initial responding emergency service providers” who were called to the “horrific scene” following reports of gunshots.
“It is what can only be described as a tragic set of circumstances for the whole family,” Supt McFadden said.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Kevin McSweeney said that when paramedics arrived they “were confronted with an extremely distressing and stressful situation”.
“Two teenagers were unfortunately deceased in their bedroom and unfortunately at that time there was nothing we could do to help them,” he said.
Forensics taking photos outside the home where two teens were shot dead in West Pennant Hills this afternoon @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/izFHMeLMXW
— Megan Palin (@Megan_Palin) 5 July 2018
At the scene of the bloody attack on Thursday evening, forensic investigators wearing white protective suits could be seen walking up and down the street with torches and cameras.
About 150m of the road was blocked off, with witches hats stopping cars from entering one end, and uniformed police officers standing guard on both. Some residents who lived in the exclusion zone were escorted back inside their houses upon arriving late to the horror that, on this occasion, had come too close to home. It’s understood the two teens’ bodies were removed just before 6am the following day.
Longtime resident John Howard, 82, told news.com.au it was “normally a pretty quiet street”.
Mr Howard said he didn’t hear any gunshots. He was alerted to the incident when his daughter saw it on the news and contacted him before he came outside.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It’s so horrific … especially for such young people to be the ones killed.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the killings as “a terrible, terrible tragedy”.
“Our hearts go out to the mother and to all of the family,” he said.
“We mourn the loss of those young people and pray that those who have been so, so hurt by this shocking crime can find comfort in prayer and the consolation from friends and loved ones.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If you or someone you know is suffering from mental illness, contact Lifeline, on 13 11 14.
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