‘Unimaginable’: Dad of slain brothers speaks

The devastated father of two brothers killed in the Blue Mountains has spoken out after discovering his sons dead in their beds.

Nick Smith raced to the property of his estranged wife Trish, 42, in Faulconbridge about noon on Tuesday after unsuccessfully trying to contact her.

He discovered both boys Russell and Ben Smith, aged 9 and 11, dead, who are suspected of being stabbed.

Their mother was alive, but bleeding from apparent self-inflicted wounds.

In a statement released on Thursday, Mr Smith said: “The loss of our two beautiful boys has caused unimaginable pain and distress.”

The father remembered his sons as “happy, funny, outgoing boys”.

“Like other boys their age, they loved sports, soccer, the Penrith Panthers, fishing, books, music, spending time with their friends and Max their pup.”

“We cannot understand how our boys have been taken this way and we appreciate the kindness and compassion shown by the community.”

Mr Smith asked for privacy as his family grieve.

Ms Smith was rushed to Westmead Hospital, where she remains under police guard in a stable condition. She has not been charged.

New theory

It comes amid reports police are examining a chilling new theory in the deaths of the brothers.

According to The Daily Telegraph, police are probing whether the children were drugged beforehand.

It is believed the boys died from multiple stab wounds while laying in their beds, the outlet reports. However it is not yet known whether they were stabbed on the day their bodies were discovered on the night before.

Police allege the tragedy was the result of a suspected murder-suicide. They have not confirmed if the alleged murder weapon was found at the scene.

The family had no prior history of domestic violence and had only minimal prior contact with police.

Blue Mountains Commander Superintendent John Nelson said it was too early to determine the cause of the tragic incident.

“The father is helping us with inquiries and he was the one who contacted police … all avenues are open for investigation,” he said.

Police are now attempting to piece together what happened inside the home.

They said the two boys were at school on Monday, the day before, and no concerns were raised, and are trying to establish their movements on Tuesday.

“We are not prepared to speculate at this stage. Our focus is coming to the bottom of what has happened in these tragic circumstances,” Supt Nelson said. “Our community has lost two precious souls in the most awful circumstances,” Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said in a statement.

“Now is a time to come together and remember these two beautiful children.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said: “I think the older and more experience you get in this job, things like this still cut to the core. It’s a tragic situation.”

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed police are “not looking for anyone else” in relation to the incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of the deaths, with detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad involved in the investigation.