A father who shot his teenage children in their Sydney home left letters that were to be opened after his death.
Fifteen-year-old Jack and 13-year-old Jennifer were killed in a bedroom at their West Pennant Hills home at about 5:20pm on Thursday.
About 12 hours later their father, John Edwards, was found dead in his own home at Normanhurst. Police believe the 68-year-old took his own life soon after the shooting.
Edwards left letters to the children's mother and other relatives, 7 News reported. He left them with a friend to deliver if something happened to him.
They were handed over to police when news of the double murder broke.
Detectives are trying to piece together exactly what happened inside the house before the father shot his two children dead in a "planned and premeditated" attack, but police have revealed the teenagers feared for their lives.
It is believed Edwards hired a car to stalk his children after school, when he knew they would be home alone, so they wouldn't recognise him when he pulled up outside the Hull Road home, 7 News reports.
The teens opened the door to Edwards at 5:20pm, who was carrying two handguns. Police say he planned the brutal attack knowing his ex-wife, Olga, 36, was yet to arrive home from work.
The children ran in terror and tried to hide, but their father hunted the pair down and found them.
"They were trying to hide in a bedroom and were huddled together when he opened fire," a senior police officer told the Daily Telegraph. "What a selfish coward."
Police were aware of Edwards over past matters, but he had no recent issues with the law, Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.
Newshub.
