Teens killed by father they feared

IN THE ultimate act of betrayal, John Edwards spent at least a year planning the murder of the son and daughter he was banned from contacting.

He even timed it down to the day before school holidays began when he knew Jack, 15, and Jennifer, 13, would be home alone.

Their Russian-born mother, lawyer Olga Edwards, 36, was at work when he went to the home in Sydney’s West Pennant Hills about 5.20pm on Thursday.

He had hired a car because the children would have recognised his distinctive Nissan Patrol 4WD at the house. They opened the door to find the dad they were terrified of. As they ran off, he hunted them down.

“They were trying to hide in a bedroom and were huddled together when he opened fire,” senior police said. “What a selfish coward.” Edwards, who would have turned 68 next week, got his firearms licence late last year after waiting almost 10 years to the day, as required by law since an apprehended violence order imposed on him had run out. Earlier this year, he lawfully bought firearms, including the two handguns he used to kill his children.

About the same time, he and his ex-wife agreed to “consent orders” in the Family Court to end a two-year custody dispute.

They agreed the children would live with their mother and have no contact with their father “whatsoever”.

In May, Edwards wound up his financial planning business and put his affairs in order.

Jack Edwards had told a friend his dad had been abusive and they didn’t want him to know where they lived.

But Edwards learnt the address and neighbours saw him a number of times as he banged on the door, demanding to see his children.

Neighbours described Edwards, who lived with his border collie in Normanhurst, as a “hermit” and “recluse”.

Mrs Edwards returned home on Thursday to the nightmare that her children had been shot multiple times in the head by their father.

Police have footage of Edwards collecting the weapons from their storage at a gun club in the previous 24 hours.

The next-door neighbour called police when he heard the shots at 5.30pm.

Soon after, police had his home surrounded. Negotiators were called as they “contained” him until first light when police went in.

Edwards, who had been married several times before meeting Olga, was known to police “but there had been no recent interactions”, acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.

Police believe Edwards shot himself dead as soon as he got home. The dog was alive.

“This is something that has been premeditated and planned,” Mr McFadden said.

Despite not being able to apply for a firearms licence until 10 years after the date the AVO order ended, Edwards had tried to join at least three other pistol clubs. They all rejected him.

Edwards used to sell Christmas cakes with Lions and was a member of a local Rural Fire Service.

Mrs Edwards has told work colleagues she does not know how she will face life without her children. “She is really struggling, desperately, she has just lost her two children and doesn’t know how she will cope,” David Brown, a senior lawyer at her firm, said. “She is completely beside herself.”