Four dead in Melbourne home

Last updated 20:02 10/04/2010

A 37-year-old man has killed his three children before taking his own life in their northern Melbourne home.

The man's girlfriend and his mother arrived home from a shopping trip about 3pm (NZ time) today to find the man and children all dead in the main bedroom of their Roxburgh Park home.

A gun was found beside the man's body. Two of his children, a girl, seven, and a boy, 10, were found on the bed. The third child, a 12-year-old girl, was found on the bedroom floor.

Neighbours were shocked to hear of the apparent murder-suicide and said they didn't hear any gunshots.

"He was always so happy," said neighbour, Vasa, who said her children played with his kids on a daily basis.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles of the homicide unit said there appeared to be no warning signs in the man's life.

His girlfriend and mother have told police they are baffled as to why the tragedy occurred.

"When a father takes the lives of his own three children, I can't comprehend it and I don't think anyone in the community can comprehend it," he told reporters.

"I think everybody here, every member of the police force, even the coroner's office, will be affected by this, and the community.

"Police are searching for the children's biological mother, who did not live with the family, to notify her of the tragedy.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/3569637/Four-dead-in-Melbourne-home