Funeral fundraiser for Alice Springs mum and 14-week-old baby, murder suicide victims

‘We will never get the answers they truly deserve’. Family of double murder suicide victims share grief.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this story contains images of deceased persons.

A MOTHER and baby who were killed in a horrifying domestic violence murder suicide will be soon laid to rest.

Shockwaves were sent through the Northern Territory after the bodies of a 30-year-old woman and her baby were discovered in a home in a small community, 25km north of Alice Springs on Sunday, July 17.

The body of a 41-year-old man and a gun were also found at the remote outstation.

Heartbroken family members are gathering in the Red Centre to mourn the loss of the young mother and her 14-weeks-old baby boy.

They have been referred to as A.K. and O.K. with the permission of her family.

Her cousin Emillio Cubillo said A.K. was the most “harmless” and “soft hearted” woman who adored her young children.

The bodies of A.K., 30 and her 14-week-old son, O.K. were found in a home on an outstation, 25km north of Alice Springs on Sunday, July 17.

“My cousin was a beautiful person,” Mr Cubillo said.

“She was the type of person that could light up the room.

“She was a funny girl with a bright personality.

“She was a great mother, she did everything for her beautiful boys.”

A funeral date for the two has been set for August 11, with domestic violence advocates raising money for the expenses.

The Equality Institute in partnership with the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group and Larapinta Child and Family in Centre have committed to raising money for AK’s family.

Equality Institute representative and researcher Chay Brown said all money would be directly transferred to A.K.’s younger sister, who is caring for her two remaining children.

Dr Brown described the domestic violence victims as a “strong and resilient mother and her baby”.

“Should we surpass our goal, the remaining funds will go to A.K.’s young sister, who has assumed care for A.K.’s two remaining young children,” Dr Brown said.

“Funds are needed to support their care, and particular goods are also needed, such as a washing machine and a microwave.”

The Go Fund Me has almost reached its $9000 goal after only five days.

Police Minister Kate Worden has criticised the “silence” in the national media to highlight the senseless tragedy.

“To be frank, if this was a white woman and her child on the eastern sea board this would have been front page news (nationally),” Ms Worden said.

“(But) this is an Aboriginal family. They are Territorians. And they have been subject to domestic violence.

“Because it’s here and perhaps because it may be hidden … it hasn’t got the traction that it needs.

“I just hope that nationally they understand that these sorts of incidents are not one-off and that we need national support to make sure that this doesn’t keep happening here in the Territory.”

Ms Worden was the one to confirm the incident was a double murder-suicide, not NT Police.

NT Police have been criticised for the lack of detail provided in the wake of the tragedy.

Police have refused to clarify if there were any witnesses, if the gun was registered, how the victims were related, or if there was a known history of domestic violence.

Police have yet to even confirm which community the incident occurred in.

Mr Cubillo said A.K’s family felt they would never get the answers behind why their loved ones were killed.

“I still can’t wrap my head around this. How can someone take a person’s life, let alone a baby’s life?” he asked.

“Her sisters, brothers and her two baby boys will never get the answers they truly deserve.”