‘Sense of failure’ may have triggered WA farm murders

PERTH: A grandfather’s ‘‘sense of failure’’ at being unable to provide for his family may have led him to murder them then take his own life at a rural property in Western Australia.

Peter Miles (61), his wife Cynda (58), their daughter Katrina (35) and her four children — daughter Taye (13) and sons Rylan (12), Arye (10) and Kadyn (8) — were found dead at Forever Dreaming Farm in Osmington on Friday.

Three guns licensed to Miles were found and the family all suffered gunshot wounds.

Friends say Miles ‘‘couldn’t look after his family’’ and felt a ‘‘sense of failure’’.

Miles was facing financial problems and looking for work.

Neighbour Neil Garnett told AAP yesterday it seemed Miles had been planning the massacre but was clearly not thinking straight.

‘‘He wasn’t some maniac going mad, randomly killing people. It was just a very sad story,’’ he said.

The children’s shattered father, Aaron Cockman, told reporters he also believed Miles had planned the apparent murdersuicide because the children were in their beds and appeared peaceful.

He did not believe Miles was struggling financially but had not spoken to his expartner’s parents since he was ‘‘cut off’’ from his children amid a bitter dispute over access to them.

‘‘Financially no, they would just sell the car, sell the tractor. They have got all new stuff out there.

‘‘He is not the sort of guy to ever let people know how much money [he’s got] but they would have a fair few hundred in the bank so it is not financial.’’

Cockman said Miles had lost a son years ago and could not bear the thought of losing the other, Neil, who is gravely ill.

‘‘He’s just gone ‘right . . . I can’t live anymore, so this is it for me. But I need to take out everyone with me because that will fix the whole problem’.’’

Police have ruled out releasing the emergency call made by a male connected to the property. — AAP