Huntingdale: Father believed to have killed young son, daughter found in their beds

Two young children are dead alongside their father after a suspected double murder-suicide in Perth’s south-east.

The tragedy happened on a usually quiet street in Huntingdale on Friday night.

The West Australian understands a girl and a boy aged four and six were found dead in the home when emergency crews arrived. The children were believed to have been discovered in their beds.

It is understood their mother was at the scene while shocked neighbours looked on in horror and disbelief.

The children’s father was also found dead in the home.

Dozens of police officers and paramedics swarmed Essington Street about 6.35pm after being called to the scene by a distraught family member.

Police could be seen being comforted at the scene.

Detectives from the homicide squad are treating the deaths as a suspected double murder-suicide. Forensic police arrived about 9.30pm, and were expected to work into the night.

A vast section of the street, which has a basketball court, a school and a playground nearby, was blocked off at both ends with police tape as officers combed the area and spoke to witnesses.

Local Julie Fennel, who lives about 50m away from the family home, said she heard police and ambulance sirens about 6.30pm.

She said she usually took her dog for a walk past the house that was now the subject of the major investigation, but it was usually a quiet street with no trouble.

Another neighbour, Samantha Pate, said she was shocked to hear about the tragedy. “I’ve never really heard of any issues (on this street),” Ms Pate said.

“We know our neighbours, we say hello to them.”

The stay-at-home mum said her family was not home at the time of the incident. Ms Pate added the Huntingdale community would “definitely” band together and support one another during the difficult days ahead.

In a statement issued late on Friday, police would only say they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of three people at a home in Essington Street.

“Detectives are currently at the scene determining the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the release said.

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