A father has faced court accused of murdering his three young daughters, wife and mother-in-law at a Perth home, days before making himself known to police.
The bodies of Mara Lee Harvey, 41, her three-year-old daughter Charlotte, two-year-old twins Alice and Beatrix, and their grandmother Beverley Ann Quinn, 73, were found at a Bedford home, in Perth's inner northeast, on Sunday.
Anthony Robert Harvey, 24, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Karratha courthouse accused of killing his wife and children on September 3 - six days before their bodies were discovered.
He allegedly killed Ms Quinn on the morning of September 4 when she arrived at the house.
The women were allegedly attacked in the kitchen, while the children were killed in other rooms.
Police also allege Harvey remained with the bodies at the house for "some days" before travelling north.
Mara Harvey, 47, was among the five bodies found dead at the Bedford home in Perth. Source: Facebook @Mara Quinn
A bearded Harvey, who wore jeans and t-shirt, appeared calm as he sat in the dock and told magistrate Joe Randazzo he understood the charges.
Lawyer Max Crispe represented Harvey via telephone but made no applications.
Harvey was not required to enter pleas and was remanded in custody to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court later this month.
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said 23 people had died in domestic violence-related circumstances already this year.
"It's impossible for me not to take stock that in the last four months, 15 people have lost their lives in three separate family tragedies," Mr Dawson told reporters.
"It's an absolute tragedy."
Investigations at the home in Bedford, Perth, where five bodies were found, could take days. (AAP)
Mr Dawson described a statement issued by Mara's sister Taryn on behalf of the family as heart-wrenching.
"There are no words to explain the emptiness and loss that we feeling," she wrote.
She said Beverley would have done anything for her daughters and grandchildren.
Mara was also a great mum.
"She was so proud of each of them and was doing a great job of raising them," Taryn wrote.
"Her girls were her world."
WA police will allege that Beverley Quinn was murdered the day after her daughter and three grandchildren were killed. Source: Western Australia Police Force
Charlotte was described as an energetic and confident girl who loved socialising, while Alice was adventurous and cheeky, and the more quiet Beatrix gave "the biggest hugs".
"This world is a sadder place with the loss of these five beautiful people but Heaven has gained five new angels."
As the police forensic team scoured property for evidence, taking it away in brown paper bags, Bedford locals expressed their shock and disbelief.
A bouquet of red roses with a card saying "rest in peace, neighbours" has been placed near the house.
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Source: SBS News
