Australian dad charged with triple murder for allegedly setting home ablaze, killing three children

An Australian father, 28, has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder for allegedly setting his home on fire, resulting in the deaths of three of his children.

The incident occurred in western Sydney’s Lalor Park, where the father, who remains in hospital under police guard, is accused of locking the door and preventing the family from escaping.

“Police will allege this man is solely responsible for setting fires inside the premises,” said New South Wales detective superintendent Daniel Doherty.

An accelerant was used to fuel the fire, and the doors were locked, trapping the family inside. A neighbor courageously rescued four of the children and their mother, but the father allegedly prevented him from saving an 11-year-old boy.

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Police arrived and had to wrestle the boy from the father’s grasp to rescue him.

The victims included two boys aged two and six and a five-month-old baby girl. The four other children are in stable condition in hospital, and their mother has been released after treatment.

The motive behind the “horrendous murderous act” is believed to be a domestic dispute. Detective Superintendent Doherty described the incident as “not something that I will forget about very quickly.”

The father was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court again.

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