A crime scene has been established after the bodies of a man and his two-year-old son were found in a home on the New South Wales far north coast overnight, in what police believe was a murder-suicide.
Police said officers attended a unit in East Lismore about 9.45pm on Sunday due to concerns for the welfare of a man and his son.
Police forced entry into the unit and found the bodies of a 38-year-old man and a two-year-old boy.
A crime scene was established overnight and inquiries into the deaths were under way.
Deputy police commissioner, Peter Thurtell, said “a more tragic event you wouldn’t come across”, and that the matter was being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Thurtell said the man was known to police “for previous DV [domestic violence] matters but not significant issues”.
Thurtell did not comment on where the mother was, but was aware she lived in the community.
“My understanding is that the male had an access visit on the day,” he said.
“My understanding is that the mother raised concerns with the fact that they were due to hand over the child at 4.30 and by 5.30 she had contacted the police, and we went around to the residence and made the discovery.”
The deaths came after an unrelated four-day statewide blitz that led to more than 550 people being charged with 1070 offences.
Of those arrested, 226 were wanted by police for serious domestic violence offences. The blitz included 3,735 domestic violence-order checks and another 1,300 bail-compliance checks.
Thurtell said domestic violence offences were rising but it showed people were increasingly willing to come forward.
“Once the coercive control legislation comes into play on July 1 and victims start to understand what it is … that may see an increase yet again,” he said.
– with AAP
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org