Dad on "custody visit" suspect in murder-suicide car crash; two children killed (Perth, Australia)

UNNAMED DAD was on a "custody visit" with his two children, and is suspected of deliberately crashing his car in a murder-suicide. The man's 6-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son were incinerated in the subsequent fire. He was allegedly "estranged" from his wife. Yea, I can see why the wife might not care for this guy much. What a disgusting, manipulative coward.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26009370-5006789,00.html

Murder-suicide suspected as man and kids die in car crash
Debbie Guest September 01, 2009
Article from: The Australian

WEST Australian police are investigating a possible murder-suicide after a Perth man and his two children were incinerated in a car crash.

The 45-year-old man's six-year-old daughter and five-year-old son were believed to have been on a custody visit when their father's station wagon crashed into a tree near a straight stretch of highway in Perth's southeast late on Sunday.

The car caught fire, incinerating its occupants. Police know who the family is but have not released their names. DNA and dental records will be used to identify them.

The man was estranged from his wife and was receiving counselling from the WA police chaplain. "The family are devastated. I can't even begin to imagine how the family would feel," Inspector Bill Munnee said.

There are believed to be several suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash, including a lack of skid marks on the highway.

Inspector Munnee said yesterday two parallel investigations were under way, with the major crash and major crime divisions examining the deaths.

"Major crash will look at all the causes of the crash, and major crime will look at all of the circumstances leading up to the crash," he said.

"This is a tragic incident for the family, the community and emergency services. The crash scene was devastating and horrendous. The police chaplain is assisting the family to put together the pieces so we can determine what happened."

Inspector Munnee said it was not known whether extra fuel or other flammable liquids were in the car at the time of the crash.

Police were yet to establish whether there were other children in the family, from Perth's southern suburbs.

"It's less than 24 hours after the incident, it's too early to tell," he said.

"We need to investigate this thoroughly and properly, and it will take some time."

He appealed for witnesses to the crash to come forward with any information.

The tragedy comes just two months after an alleged murder-suicide bid by Perth mother Rita Ariyaratnam.

In July, Ms Ariyaratnam's seven-month-old twins were found dead in their Perth eastern suburbs home by their father.

Ms Ariyaratnam was lying unconscious nearby after an apparent overdose of anti-depressants.

She has been charged with murder and is in a psychiatric hospital awaiting her next court appearance.