Father charged after five-year-old boy stabbed to death

Police have charged a man with murder after the death of a five-year-old boy in New South Wales on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to a house at 7am and found the boy with stab wounds.

A grandmother had desperately tried to shield and rescue her grandson during an attack allegedly at the hands of his own father.

The boy suffered horrific injuries, fighting for life in his grandmother’s arms, but he couldn’t be saved.

“She’s behaved in a heroic and caring manner, as you would imagine a grandmother would,” NSW Police Superintendent Rob Critchlow said.

“She’s been presented with something terrible, and done her best to get the young boy to safety.”

Senior police were left visibly shattered at the scene.

• One dead after plane crashes into Melbourne street and catches on fire

• New hope for mother’s cold case murder as police offer $1m reward

• Trio jailed over death of kidnapped mum who ‘jumped’ from moving car

The boy’s mother was not present at the time of the attack, having left for work.

The grandmother raced the boy from the home with critical injuries, pulling over to call emergency services.

Tragically, he died at Westmead Children’s Hospital at 8.02am.

Forensic teams are expected to remain at the home throughout the night.

“It’s been a horrible and brutal crime against a very young, very defenceless boy which requires complete investigation and the matter will go before the courts in due course,” Supt Critchlow said.

The 36-year-old father was arrested nearby and taken to a nearby police station.

He was charged with murder and refused bail to appear before the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.