Teen charged with murder over death of mum and two children

A 48-year-old mother and her two children, aged 15 and 8 were found at a home in Ellenbrook, northeast of Perth, after police were called to a nearby 7-Eleven store early on Sunday morning, reports SBS. 

Police entered the property to find the two children dead inside and the mother in a critical condition in the backyard. The woman was taken to Perth hospital but died a short time after.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel said the gruesome discovery had shaken his colleagues, reports News.com.au 

“A senior homicide squad investigating officer said to me today it is potentially the most horrific crime scenes he has ever been called to.

“They located two deceased people inside the home and a further victim in the rear yard.

“An ambulance was called in relation to the critically injured victim in the rear yard who was conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital and, tragically, she died en route.” 

The home and the convenience store are both now crime scenes and it will likely take days for them to be processed.

“This is a terrible tragedy for the family involved, for their extended family and for those first responders who were forced to attend what was a horrific crime scene.

“I can assure the community that WA Police are applying all resources that we can to get to the bottom of what’s happened here.” 

A local resident told The West Australian he was woken by screaming and yelling about 1am on Sunday morning.

“I just heard a lot of screaming and yelling and a bit of fighting, and the cops flew past here and headed up this way,” Matthew Schreck said. 

“It was real loud yelling and screaming. It sounded pretty bad. It sounded like a man.”

A 19-year-old, who is believed to be related to the victims, has been charged with three counts of murder. 

He is due to appear in the Midland Magistrates Court on Monday.

This article originally appeared on Marie Claire.