Mum's desperate call for help following murder-suicide tragedy
Following the murder of her two children by their father in July, a struggling Olga Edwards turned to Rosie Batty for help, the family violence campaigner has revealed.
Ms Edwards’ estranged husband John shot dead their 15-year-old son Jack, and 13-year-old daughter Jennifer at their West Pennant Hills home, north west of Sydney, before killing himself.
Less than six months later, the Russian-born mother was found dead at the same property. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Ms Batty told the Sydney Morning Herald Ms Edwards came to her in search for solace in the wake of her children’s deaths, after Ms Batty herself lost her son to family violence in 2014.
Ms Batty said the distraught mother had continually questioned the way her case was handled from the initial police response to the subsequent process with the family court system.
Ms Batty said the mother had become the latest victim of the “system failing”, following a lengthy custody battle for her children.
“I did feel with her a sense of hopelessness… I felt that it would not surprise me if she made that decision…I don’t blame her and I understand. I deeply understand,” she told the Fairfax publication.
The former Australian of the Year said the death of her 11-year-old son Luke, at the hands of his father and her ex-husband, allowed the pair to truly understand each other’s trauma.
“[Olga] would say to me, how do you find meaning in your life? How do you do that? She was very upset at that particular time, just reeling from the finality of everything,” she revealed.
Despite much needed help from Ms Batty, the 37-year-old struggled to cope with her children’s deaths and became a recluse among her friends and family, The Daily Telegraph reported.
She was unable to return to her job as a solicitor in Woolwich and was receiving constant counselling.
With the unbearable thought of spending Christmas alone, she had made the decision to return to Russia in the new year.
“She was dreading Christmas without the kids and planned to leave Australia for good,” a friend told the Daily Telegraph.
Ms Edwards’ body was found by police on Wednesday. Her immediate family have been informed of her death, just days after her mother returned to Russia who came to Australia to be by her daughter’s side during her ordeal.
For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
