Dad breaks silence on slain boys

The father of two young boys fatally stabbed inside a Blue Mountains home has broken his silence, revealing his “unimaginable pain and distress”.

The bodies of the boys, aged 9 and 11, were found inside their Faulconbridge home by their father, Nick Smith, on Tuesday afternoon, alongside their mother Trish, 42, who was taken to hospital under police guard with self-inflicted stab wounds.

It is understood the father had access to the home but did not live at the property.

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

“Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys, and were very much loved by their family and friends.

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

Mr Smith said the shocking nature in which his sons died had been difficult to comprehend.

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

“We also ask the media respects our need for privacy at this time and give us the time and space we need to grieve.”

Police described the scene at the Faulconbridge home as “tragic” on Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters officers were keeping an open mind in investigating the circumstances of the boys’ deaths.

“It is early stages and (we’re) not prepared to speculate on that (motive) at this stage,” Superintendent John Nelson said.

“This is about as tragic as it gets. (Community members) are genuinely shocked.”

The boys’ mother was arrested and taken to hospital under police guard after the bodies were discovered on Tuesday. She had self-inflicted injuries.

Ms Smith was known to police for “minor matters”, and authorities were “not looking for anyone else”.

Russell and Ben were at school the day before, and no concerns were raised.

Homicide squad detectives will attempt to piece together the boys’ movements on the day they died.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said “I know without hesitation that compassion is embedded deeply in the fabric of our population”.

“Two beautiful little souls are lost to us in the most devastating of circumstances. I know their extended family will be embraced by all,” Mr Greenhill posted on social media.

“Be kind to yourselves on this most heartbreaking of nights and in the days and months ahead. Look out for those around us.”

Premier Chris Minns said the life of the boys’ father had been turned upside down.

“I can only imagine what the father of those two boys is going through today and I want to assure him the people of NSW are behind him as he deals with the turning of his life upside down,” the told media on Wednesday.

“(This) has obviously distressed the people of NSW and I want to assure them every help will be provided to the father of those two boys in the days ahead as he deals with this incredibly distressing situation.”

Russell and Ben went to school in the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.

A school spokesperson said counselling and support for staff and students would continue for weeks.

“The care and kindness of the broader Blue Mountains community at this difficult time is much appreciated,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Tributes of flowers, teddy bears and toy cars have been mounting outside the house since the deaths.

The Daily Telegraph reports the boys were stabbed to death while lying in their beds. The Telegraph reports detectives are investigating whether they were drugged beforehand.