A Kenyan community is rallying to secure legal representation for a mother accused of stabbing her three children in the Blue Mountains, while her parents prepare to travel from Africa to Australia to support her.
The 42-year-old woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, remains under police guard at Westmead Hospital. Her husband has stayed by the bedside of their only surviving child.
Police allege the woman told her husband she was taking the children on a picnic before attacking them as they sat strapped into their car seats in Valley Heights on September 20.
Her five-year-old son died at the scene. His younger siblings, aged three and one, were taken to Westmead Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in critical condition, along with their mother.
The one-year-old girl died from her injuries four days later. Investigators are examining whether an argument between the children’s parents may have preceded the alleged attack.
The Daily Mail understands members of Sydney’s Kenyan community are now working to assemble a legal team for the accused woman, while her parents try to secure the money, visas and flights needed to travel from Nairobi to Sydney.
The appeal for assistance comes as relatives and friends remain unable to visit the woman in hospital, where she is being treated under police supervision.
In a private message circulated among people concerned about her welfare, supporters thanked the community and asked them to continue providing practical and emotional support.
A Kenyan community is rallying to find legal representation for a mother accused of attacking her three children in the Blue Mountains
Police allege the 42-year-old told her husband she was taking the children on a picnic before the incident involving them in their car seats
A private message to friends and relatives urged them to continue their “prayers and contributions” for the family
“Thank you to everyone for their wishes, the visits, prayers and contributions,” the message said.
“Regarding the mum, we have not been allowed to see her yet.
“We had a meeting with authorities this morning and they have assured us she is stable and well, getting the best care possible.
“We are also doing our best to get a legal team for her and for her family to hopefully travel.
“Be blessed for abiding and support. Please continue to support.”
The woman is understood to have arrived in Australia on a student visa before meeting and marrying the children’s father.
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A friend said the woman’s parents were urgently trying to organise funding, visas and flights so they could travel from Kenya to Australia.
“They are in shock by what they have heard and they want to go now themselves to speak to her and to try to find out more,” the friend said.
Meanwhile, the father’s family in Nairobi is also preparing to make the 12,000-kilometre journey to Australia to attend the funerals of the two children.
A friend has since confirmed the woman’s parents are now desperately trying to arrange funds, visas and flights from Kenya to Australia
‘He is overwhelmed by everything that has happened, spending his time at the hospital and just trying to come to terms with everything,’ the friend said.
‘He was there by his daughter’s side when she passed away and went to heaven and he doesn’t want to leave the other child now.’
The mother appeared before Penrith Local Court on Tuesday, September 22, via video link from her hospital bed under police guard.
She was formally charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder, with one attempted murder charge expected to be upgraded following the death of the one-year-old.
It was about 1pm on the sunny Sunday that the mother stopped her car on the side of the road next to the entry of the Valley Heights Waterfall track.
It is not known if she had planned to walk to the popular swimming hole with the children, but police say she had no previous links to the Blue Mountains area.
Local resident Julie Sukkar initially believed the commotion just metres from her front door was the aftermath of a traffic accident.
But when she went outside, she saw the vehicle parked on the grass verge of a vacant block with its doors open and the three children inside, while their mother lay nearby in the bushes.
Local resident Julie Sukkar initially believed the commotion just metres from her front door was the aftermath of a traffic accident
‘One of the children, a little girl, a baby, had a beautiful pink and white flower dress on,’ Ms Sukkar told the Daily Mail. ‘I noticed that as they pulled her out of her car seat.
‘I only thought there were two children at first, but there were three of them in there.
‘The woman on the ground was yelling, screaming and thrashing about. I’m not sure what she was saying, or if she was trying to say anything.
‘She was covered in blood and had some really bad injuries.’
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