Police are investigating a possible double homicide after a bloody find in a Forestville granny flat.
Around 9.30pm last night (Wednesday, 11 June), NSW Police attended a residential property at Cannons Parade, Forestville, following concerns for the welfare of two people who had not been heard from since Saturday (07 June).
Yesterday afternoon, a friend raised concerns for a couple and their pets after they had not been contactable since the weekend. The man in his late 40s and woman in her early 50s had been renting a granny flat at the rear of a property at Cannons Parade.
Unable to raise the couple, officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended the property, and called firefighters from Forestville Station to help force entry to the granny flat, where they made the gruesome find just before 10.00pm. NSW Ambulance paramedics were called to confirm the deaths shortly after, but it was clear to police they were deceased.
Northern Beaches Police Area Commander Superintendent John Duncan addressed the national media outside the property at 10.00am this morning (Thursday, 12 June), revealing two bodies had been found with lacerations and they were treating the deaths as suspicious (video below).
Superintendent Duncan stressed the investigation into the deaths has just begun and all lines of inquiry are currently open. He said the couple were known to police, but only for minor matters.
He also confirmed there is no history of domestic violence in NSW for the couple, who had moved from QLD a few years ago, but they would be looking into domestic violence as a line of inquiry.
“We are talking to our counterparts in QLD, but at this particular point in time, until we formally identify the people, it’s a bit difficult to actually confirm what records relate to them. At this point in time, that is definitely a line of inquiry,” said Supt Duncan.
Supt Duncan said there was no sign of forced entry to the granny flat, which was secure when they arrived, requiring them to request the assistance of firefighters to gain entry.
“At this point in time we are not looking for a third party. However, the investigation is in its infancy. We’re still processing the crime scene and it’s still yet to be determined how they died. So all options are left open,” said Supt Duncan.
Based on the physical condition the couple were found in, Supt Duncan declined to confirm if a weapon had been found in the granny flat, saying the crime scene was still being processed but he asked for anyone who had seen anything unusual on the street to contact police.
“Obviously, this is a very good street, in generally a very quiet area. If anybody’s seen anything suspicious, or out of the norm since the weekend, please contact either Northern Beaches detectives or contact Crime Stoppers. Any information, no matter how small, may assist us,” said Supt Duncan.
The couple’s pets, two dogs and a cat, were located safe by police officers and handed into the care of a local vet.
“When we get in touch with the next of kin, once we have identified the parties, we’ll make arrangements for the animals,” said Supt Duncan.
Northern Beaches Police Area Command has established Strike Force Donnybrook to conduct the investigation into the two deaths, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
Images: Northern Beaches Advocate
NSW Police are seeking public assistance in relation to this matter. If you have any information that may assist them with their inquiries, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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