The tragic demise of a family found dead in an apparent murder-suicide has sent shockwaves through Australia, with questions being raised over whether more could have been done to help the struggling parents.
Police in Western Australia said last Friday they had been called to the scene of what they suspected was a murder-suicide in Mosman Park in the city of Perth.
Among the dead were a middle-aged man and woman along with two teenaged boys, they said. A note was left at the scene. Three pets were also killed.
Authorities declined to name the dead, but media have widely reported they are French-born Maiwenna Goasdoue, her partner Jarrod Clune and two sons Leon and Otis.
Goasdoue’s social media paints a picture of a happy family enjoying good times on the beach and celebrating birthdays with cake and candles.
But the two boys were reported to be autistic that presented major challenges for their parents.
“We know that both children experienced significant health challenges,” Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo told reporters.
“This is a highly distressing situation for all involved.”
Media reports citing friends of the family said they had felt overwhelmed and abandoned, receiving inadequate support from Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Disability Minister Mark Butler on Tuesday described it as an “awful tragedy” but declined to comment in detail on what kind of NDIS support the children were receiving.
And other advocates have raised concerns about widespread media reporting that the parents were forced to kill their children because of the lack of support they received.
Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess said: “Murder is never an option”.
“We must reject the idea that disability is a burden,” Kayess said.
“Every child has the right to life, safety and support, and families should have access to help well before crisis.”
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