On Sunday, a man who was under a domestic violence restraining order killed his two-year-son in NSW’s Northern Rivers.
He then took his own life. The child’s mother, Sophie Roome, had taken out the restraining order against her husband, James Harrison.
They were found dead in a unit at Lismore East at around 9.45pm.
Around an hour after her ex-husband was due to bring their son back from a custody visit, Roome called the police to check on her and her son.
Court documents revealed that she had previously applied for a restraining order against Harrison.
He was present when the order was made on February 13.
The protection order, which was for twelve months, was still in place as the police officers who entered Harrison’s unit in the early hours of Sunday discovered his body and the child.
The court ruled that Harrison should not have been able to contact or threaten Roome or anyone else who had a domestic relationship with him.
He was also prohibited from intentionally harming or damaging any animal that belonged to her.
If Harrison had violated the ADVO, he would have faced up to two years in jail and a $5500 fine.
Peter Thurtell, a deputy commissioner of NSW Police, said that Harrison had been known to the police for domestic violence before.
He noted that no weapon was used in the tragic incident, which he referred to as a “system” that Harrison had set up that led to the deaths of the child and his father.
According to Thurtell, the father had established a system that led to the deaths of both the child and his father.
He said that the police should focus on the child’s mother, and that a report will be submitted to the coroner.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.