Kathleen Heggs charged over grandsons’ deaths in Coonabarabran
A NSW grandmother has appeared in court charged with two counts of murder, just hours after the parents of two boys found dead in her care paid tribute to the children.
NSW
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A NSW grandmother has appeared in court charged with the murder of her grandsons, just hours after the parents of the two boys spoke of their children’s inseparable bond.
Kathleen Joyce Heggs faced Parramatta Local Court, from custody at Orange Police Station, on Saturday after being charged with two counts of murder.
Heggs faced the AVL screen with short bleached blonde hair and was wearing a black jacket. She responded “yes” when her charges were read to her.
Her lawyer Mr Rolf said there would not be a release application and requested the case be moved back to line up with a forensic procedure application.
The Magistrate adjourned the case to Dubbo Local Court on May 21.
Police charged Kathleen Heggs with two counts of murder overnight after Max Johnson, 7, and his younger brother Sam, 6, who were found dead inside a Coonabarabran home on Monday afternoon.
Heggs allegedly told authorities who called to check why the boys weren’t at school that they were no longer alive, police claim.
She will face Parramatta Bail Court later today.
The boys’ distraught parents Samantha and Troy told The Saturday Telegraph that they never stopped loving their boys.
“I lost some of my soul when they took our boys … when I found out they were dead, I felt most of my soul die,” Mr Johnson said.
He said the youngest boy Sam had undergone extensive treatment for cancer, which he was diagnosed with at birth.
“They were the most awesome boys. Sam is the toughest little boy I have ever seen, how he beat the cancer, and how tough he was. He is my hero and always will be,” he said.
“They absolutely adored each other, I’ve never seen a bond so strong.”
The parents are now preparing to bury their boys and after their karate instructor Peter Wilkie revealed how they were about to get their yellow belt, Mr Johnson said he wanted to make sure they both still received it.
“I would like them both in their karate uniforms, wearing their belts that they earned,” he said.
The boys’ exact cause of death will be determined by a post-mortem.
Police said a routine call by the Department of Communities and Justice to Coonabarabran Public School to check on the boys was the first clue something was horribly wrong.
When the school said the children hadn’t arrived that day, a staff member contacted Ms Heggs who allegedly said the children were dead.
The close-knit town where the family had lived for the past 11 months held a vigil on Friday night to remember the two boys, and comfort one another.
“In loving memory of the two young lives gone from our community this week … bring glow sticks, stories. Stand in love and strength,” local councillor Kodi Brady posted on social media before the vigil, to encourage grieving locals to come along.
Originally published as Kathleen Heggs charged over grandsons’ deaths in Coonabarabran
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