Woman charged with murder of 2 grandsons northwest of Sydney

SYDNEY, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A woman has been charged with murder over the deaths of two boys whose bodies were found in a home northwest of Sydney in the state of New South Wales (NSW), a NSW Police statement said on Saturday morning.

Police officers responding to reports of a concern for welfare found the bodies of the two boys, aged six and seven, inside a home in the small town of Coonabarabran, over 300 km northwest of Sydney, on May 5.

A 66-year-old woman who was also found inside the home was taken to the hospital under police guard until being released on May 9, when she was taken to a local police station and charged with two counts of murder.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the woman is the grandmother of the boys. She faced a Sydney court via video link on Saturday where she did not apply for bail.

ABC quoted police as saying that the two boys moved to Coonabarabran with their grandmother in mid-2024. The boys have been publicly identified by their parents as brothers Max and Sam Johnson.

A vigil for the boys was held in the town on Friday night and two trees were planted in their memory. ■