Lalor Park fire: Man charged with murder following fatal house fire that killed three kids
A 28-year-old man has been charged with multiple murders following a house fire in western Sydney at the weekend that killed three young children.
A six-year-old, a two-year-old and a five-month-old died in the fire at Lalor Park in the early hours of Sunday morning. The man is alleged to have ignited the blaze and hindered rescue efforts.
The man, under guard at Westmead Hospital, has been charged with three counts of murder (DV), five counts of attempted murder (DV) and also destroying/damaging property with intent to endanger life (DV).
Neighbours and emergency services got to the fire at about 1am and rescued the six-year-old and two-year-old boys from the flames but but they died a short time later.
The body of a five-month-old girl was found inside the home after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
A 29-year-old woman and four children, aged between four and 11, were taken to hospital.
The woman has since been discharged, and the children remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Homicide squad Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty has alleged the man intentionally kept police and neighbours out of the burning house while the kids were screaming inside.
A 28-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after a horrific Western Sydney house fire (pictured: a forensic team at the site)
The man's matter was briefly mentioned at court on Thursday where an AVO was issued for the remaining children and the 29-year-old woman
Emergency crews attended to the blaze about 1am on Sunday and tragically found the body of a five-month-old girl inside after they extinguished the blaze
Police have launched a large-scale investigation through Strike Force Carrbridge, which involves detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, and officers from the Blacktown Police Area Command, Arson Unit and Child Abuse Squad.
Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia all three front rooms of the house were quickly engulfed in flames before power lines then sparked and snapped away from the house.
Forensic teams spent Sunday combing over the charred property for evidence as the body of the five-month-old girl was removed.
Candles and bouquets of flowers were left outside the property this week.
One message someone left alongside a bouquet of flowers read: 'May you rest in peace sweet innocent children.'
Flowers outside the property this week left in tribute for the three children
At least 20 firefighters and six fire trucks, rushed to the property as it was ablaze about 1am Sunday
The charged 28-year-old man is under police guard in hospital and will appear via video-link at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday
NSW Police Acting Superintendent Jason Pietruszka said the woman and the other children were expected to make a full recovery.
'It's devastating, there's no other word for it. It's devastating for the community, the other kids who go to school with the children,' Superintendent Pietruszka said.
He said neighbours and police were 'quite heroic' in trying to get into the house and that the actions of one neighbour saved more lives from being lost.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry praised firefighters.
'They got in, commenced their firefighting operations, did that search, got those two children out, and handed them over to paramedics who then continued with that emergency medical treatment.'
'There was heavy fire activity, the flames venting out through both front windows, getting up over the roof line,' he said.
The man's matter was briefly mentioned in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday morning and his solicitor, Ben Wilcox, did not make an application for bail.
The man remains in hospital and did not appear on screen via AVL. His matter was adjourned until September.
Police have also taken out an AVO on behalf of the woman and the children who are alive.
The AVO prevents the man from contacting his alleged victims, going within 500m of where they live or work or approaching any school or childcare centre they attend.
He is also prevented from possessing any firearm.
