Mother of Sydney children murdered by father found dead

The Russian-speaking community says the past months would have been "unbearable" for a Sydney mum found dead in the same house her children were murdered.

Olga Edwards was grieving her two teenage children who were shot dead by their father.

Olga Edwards was grieving her two teenage children who were shot dead by their father. Source: AAP

Sydney mother Olga Edwards has been found dead less than six months since her children Jack and Jennifer were shot dead by their estranged father in their home.

Olga Edwards was discovered by police about 10am on Wednesday after they responded to a concern for welfare report at the same house her children were murdered earlier in the year.

NSW Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.
Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty said the devastated mother had turned to her for support. 

Ms Batty's own son died in 2014 after he was stabbed to death by his father. 

She told the Sydney Morning Herald Ms Edwards had understandably lost all trust and hope.

"From the initial police response, when she first reached out for help a long time ago...to her experience in the family court system. Those are the things she did share with me, which completely frustrated me," Ms Batty said.

"I really want people to understand [this tragedy] was exacerbated through the family law court system...that's exactly what it was, another example of the system failing."
Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty.
Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty said Olga Edwards had lost all trust and hope. Source: AAP
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Ms Batty said the family law court is in desperate need of reform as it fails to understand the risks to child safety.

"It's overburdened, under-funded, ill-equipped and without expertise," she said.

"There is still an assumption it is in the best interest of children to have ongoing contact with ex-partners. And children are not respected for their own feelings about this."

Ms Edwards was devastated after her estranged husband John shot their 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter at their West Pennant Hills home before killing himself in July.

The Russian-born mother had worked as a solicitor in Woolwich and was taken into the care of friends following the murder-suicide.

Detective Superintendent David Waddell said officers who had been investigating the murder-suicide went to the West Pennant Hills home on Wednesday to check on Ms Edwards when they found her body.

She had been receiving support from police, organisations, family and friends but "obviously things took their toll," he told 2GB radio.

AAP understands her overseas family is being notified.
The grieving mother of murdered teenagers Jack, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, released photos of her children.
Jack Edwards, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, were murdered by their father. Source: AAP
"It's a tragic set of circumstances," Det Supt Waddell told 2GB radio on Wednesday.

"There was plenty of support out there and our police have been supportive as have many other organisations, family and friends but obviously things took their toll."

The Russian-speaking community rallied around Ms Edwards after the murders and have now sent their condolences to her family and friends.

Russian speakers Australia told AAP the last several months must have been "unbearable" for her.

After the murder it emerged Edwards, a financial advisor, had legally purchased the powerful handguns used in the murders months earlier while he was involved in a drawn-out custody battle over the children.

His actions shocked the nation, prompting politicians and activist groups to launch reviews of firearms and domestic violence legislation.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636


Share
3 min read

Published

Updated


Tags

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world