NSW: Father faces court charged with murdering children

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
NSW: Father faces court charged with murdering children

By Janine O'Neill, Police Reporter

SYDNEY, Aug 21 AAP - A 33-year-old man charged with murdering his three young children
sobbed uncontrollably during a brief court appearance today.

Steven Anthony Fraser is charged with killing his sons, aged five and six, and his
daughter aged seven, who were found dead at a unit in Sydney's south yesterday.

The five year old's body was found in the loungeroom, after a locksmith was asked to
enter the unit by the children's concerned grandmother.

The other two bodies were discovered lying on beds in separate bedrooms, with their
hands placed together and resting on their chests.

The distressed father was found in a bathtub filled with water, and was questioned
for several hours before being charged last night.

In court today Fraser was still clearly distressed as he sat rocking back and forth
in a chair staring blankly at the ceiling before buckling over and focusing on the floor.

The case being heard at Sutherland Local Court had to be adjourned for a short period
when the unemployed man's weeping escalated into uncontrollable loud sobbing.

It was believed his mother and sister were in the court but even as he was helped from
the court on what appeared to be shaky legs he refused to make eye contact with anyone.

Fraser's barrister Bill Barber told the court his client was in such a distressed state
he had not been able to communicate with him properly.

Mr Barber said he had not been able to obtain full instructions and urged the court
to take this into account when considering the prosecution's application for DNA samples
to be taken from the accused.

However, Magistrate Kevin Maughn granted the police application, saying it was a matter
of urgency.

Samples of his blood, hair and saliva were to be taken at Long Bail Jail, where he
will also undergo psychiatric assessment.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa Green said: "There is a nexus between what he possibly
proposed to do ... what he was in possession of ... and the possible cause of death.

"There lies an urgency for the need to obtain a blood sample to match against the defendant
and the children's blood."

Mr Barber succeeded in preventing a handwriting sample from being taken for the time
being due to the distressed state of his client who did not apply for bail today.

Autopsies were this afternoon still being carried out on the three children to determine
the cause of their deaths.

Mr Maughn remanded Fraser in custody and adjourned the matter until September 5 in
the same court.

AAP jo/rp/vr/mo

KEYWORD: FRASER NIGHTLEAD

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