“Dead inside”. That’s how Allan Chiem, the 31-year-old from western Sydney charged with murdering his mother and father, Hoa Tek Chiem, 69, and Heang Kim Gau, 68, was described on Sunday morning.
A source not authorised to speak publicly said that Chiem had not shown any emotion since he was picked up at the Canley Heights home he shared with his parents on Saturday afternoon and charged with their murder. “He’s been dead inside for years,” said the source, who was unwilling to give their name because of professional prohibitions on speaking publicly.
The bodies of Hoa Tek Chiem and Heang Kim Gau were found at their family-run burger store on Saturday morning.Credit:
Chiem’s older brother, who no longer lived at the family home, made the horror discovery of his parents’ bodies inside Cambridge Park’s popular Buzzy Bee’s Burger House on Saturday morning.
The couple, who were born in Cambodia and later migrated to Australia, had been stabbed to death, allegedly by their son.
Court documents obtained by the Herald say the alleged murders took place between 7am and 8.15am.
Chiem, 31, also worked at the takeaway shop with his parents, as well as working as a part-time bookkeeper. Chiem “kept to himself”, the source said, and didn’t have many friends.
Tributes were laid outside Buzzy Bee’s Burger House, following the death of the couple who ran it for two decades.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Footage circulating on social media on Saturday showed a man dressed in black in the area, with one video clip showing the man on the roof of the Cambridge Park shops.
In a brief appearance before Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, Chiem’s lawyer, Mohamad Sakr of Truth Lawyers, said that his client would remain behind bars until at least January, requesting that Corrective Services undertake a mental health assessment.
He will return to Penrith Local Court early next year.
“A professional will be engaged for the purpose of assessing my client’s mental health,” he told reporters outside court, adding that there was “no place” for alleged domestic violence in society.
Police are examining footage circulating on social media in relation to their investigation into the deaths.
Heartbroken locals expressed their grief on social media, recalling that the couple knew their regular customers’ names by heart and describing it as their favourite takeaway shop, especially for fish and chips.
One person wrote “they always greeted everyone with a smile” and that “Cambo shops” would never be the same.
The local community plans to hold a vigil for the dead couple in the coming days.
On Sunday, dozens of tributes were placed outside the business.
“They showed me what it means to be hard working,” read a tribute to “Boss and Kim” at the closed roller door of the shop.
“For 29 years, 7 days a week – rain hail or shine – they dedicated themselves to this place. They were always here for the community.
“Their absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.... the community has lost something truly special.”
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