‘I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY’RE GONE’
program revealed there was a hidden secret to the story that shocked Australia – a secret that has repercussions for discussions
No-one knows what was going through Peter Miles’ mind on the day he shot his four grandchildren dead, one-by-one, in their beds. The 61-year-old, from Margaret River, WA, didn’t only end the lives of four innocent youngsters on May 11 this year – he killed his own wife, Cynda, 58, and daughter, Katrina, 35, before turning the gun on himself. ‘I still can’t believe that this is even happening... it’s like that split second when you wake up and think: “Oh, it is real,”’ Aaron Cockman – the father of the slain children, Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Arye, 10, and Kayden, eight – told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night in an exclusive interview. The dad became emotional as he recalled the moment the police came to tell him the news.
‘I walked up and said: “Is it true? Is it my kids?’’’ he told the program. ‘And they said: “Yes.”’
A seemingly loving grandfather had done the unthinkable. Murdered his entire family. And until recently, the question remained: Why?
A neighbour told Sunday Night Peter ‘had a problem with depression’, explaining he was seeking psychological help and had been prescribed anti-depressants.
But that wasn’t all. The about mental health and beyond.
At the time of the tragic deaths, Aaron and Katrina had been embroiled in a bitter custody dispute over their children.
What the public didn’t know, was that the custody dispute had been resolved in court, using a detailed report by an experienced psychologist.
It revealed his overall opinion of Aaron was positive and led to specific court orders – details of which cannot be reported for legal reasons – on where the children should live.
Aaron says, by staying on the property where the killings took place, those court orders were ignored.
He believes the long and costly legal battle helped push Peter over the edge and wants changes to the system so that court orders are monitored and enforced.
‘I can’t just sit at home on the couch,’ Aaron – who was not paid for his interview – told the program. ‘I need this... to keep mentally in myself as a person [and] be strong enough to get through this.
‘Out of this, if I can make things change... it’s better for the kids... it’s better for the dads and mums... I’m going to put all my effort into that now. I’ve got nothing else.’
‘IT’S LIKE THAT SPLIT SECOND WHEN YOU WAKE UP AND THINK: “OH, IT IS REAL”’ – AARON COCKMAN