A Chinese tourist dumped by her Australian lover sobbed hysterically as she faced court accused of murdering his wife and grandson with garden shears.
Cai Xia Liao, 45, did not meet the eyes of more than a dozen family members of Mai Mach, 60, and Alistair Kwong, 4, who were fatally stabbed at their Melbourne home on Tuesday.
Liao, wearing a black tracksuit, cried loudly and became increasingly hysterical throughout a short hearing on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen, who remanded her until July 22.
Her lawyer, Sarah Pratt, said this was the first time Liao, who is in Australia on a tourist visa, had been in custody.
Liao needs blood pressure medication and has suicidal thoughts, Ms Pratt said.
Supported by Alistair's father Andrew Kwong, his mother Amy Mach held a toy and tiny photo of their only child during the hearing.
A dozen other relatives watched Liao from the back of the court.
Late on Wednesday night, after Liao was charged with murder, Detective Leading Senior Constable Tony Harwood told an out-of-sessions court hearing Liao had allegedly bound and gagged Giangwa Mach, 61, before the alleged murders in suburban Albanvale.
The court heard Mr Mach had recently ended a three-year relationship with the accused killer.
A post mortem revealed Alistair, who was regularly babysat by his grandparents, was stabbed 18 times and had tried to defend himself from the attack.
It's alleged Liao waited up to 10 hours for Mrs Mach to return home before stabbing her 23 times in the backyard, Det Leading Snr Const Harwood said.
Liao is also charged with intentionally causing injury, assault and false imprisonment in relation to Mr Mach.
She will return to court for a committal hearing on July 22.
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