The father of a woman accused of murdering her two children “had no idea” his daughter was struggling with her mental health and is struggling to understand the tragedy that unfolded.
Trish Smith, 42, has been charged with murdering her sons Russell, 11, and Ben, nine, at their home in Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, on September 10.
The children were found by their father and Smith’s ex-husband, Nick.
Smith was also found with self-inflicted injuries and remains in custody.
Their father, Geoff Densmore, has shared his grief over the deaths of his two grandsons as he and the community struggle to come to terms with what happened.
“We really don’t know what happened. We had no idea she was sick. There have been a lot of prayers and private masses said for her,” he said. The Daily Telegraph.
‘The children were special, very special. I have to put them in the ground. I still can’t understand Ben… Russell. They’re gone.’
Mr Densmore, a property appraiser, said he harboured no anger towards his daughter and added that he and his wife Linda, a retired primary school teacher, were unaware she had mental health problems.
Trish Smith (right) has been charged with murdering her sons Russell, 11, and Ben, nine (pictured with their father Nick) at their home in Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, on September 10.
“Linda is not nice, she is very religious. She is praying. I think one day I will break down, but I am trying not to. I am trying to be strong for everyone,” she said.
Mr Densmore described the incident as “tragic” and said he has not spoken to his daughter since she allegedly murdered his grandchildren.
He and Mr Smith, whom he described as “unwell” since the tragedy, are now tasked with organising Russell and Ben’s funeral.
Lawyer Paul McGirr previously told Daily Mail Australia that Smith had texted her ex-husband the night before the children were allegedly killed, telling him she loved him.
“The kids were obviously in bed and she was going to sleep and she sent him a text saying ‘I love you,'” McGirr said.
‘He sent her a message telling her that he loved her.
“He didn’t live in the house, but I think it was a very amicable split and he was still very involved and they were raising the kids together.”
The two children were found dead by their father Nick last Tuesday.
Mr McGirr did not know how long the couple had been separated but said that until the horrific events last week, much of their shared parenting had continued as normal.
‘‘He was very close to the boys, they would go on outings and he would cook for them,’ McGirr said.
‘They were raising the children separately, but in a very friendly way. That’s why it’s so important that all family members receive support.
‘The whole family on both sides, her family and his, have been incredibly supportive.’
In January 2020, Smith was made redundant from her job with the New South Wales Government as a Senior Land Services Officer in Greater Sydney after being unable to fulfil her duties due to complications from postpartum depression and anxiety.
She began a two-year legal battle against her employer for unfair dismissal, which she eventually lost in November 2023.
The mother claimed she had been fired due to “work-related injuries” after suffering anxiety due to discrimination and harassment.
However, the Fair Work Commission ruled that her mental health problems originated at home after the birth of her second child.
According to court documents, he had worked for Land Services since 2005 and had no problems until he returned to work in 2016.
After giving birth to her second child in 2015, she developed postpartum depression and began to experience a shift in her feelings toward work, which had previously been a “big part of her identity.”
Smith’s father said he had no idea she had been struggling with her mental health.
In June 2017, she was diagnosed with anxiety and a psychologist commented after a session: “I lost confidence after finishing maternity leave”, “tearful since having children” and “I’ve felt this way since my youngest son was born”.
The following month, on July 27, she filed a workers’ compensation claim for psychological injuries after suffering a panic attack due to an issue at work.
Her employer initially denied the claim, before arrangements were subsequently made to pay her backdated weekly compensation for a period of six months and additional medical expenses.
Two years later, he filed two more claims: in July and November 2019.
In the first, she claimed she was experiencing “reactive anxiety” and a “flare-up of her symptoms” after an annual professional development meeting with a manager.
Four months later, she filed another claim after receiving a letter from her employer suggesting she take sick leave.
Both claims were initially rejected before it was later established that she would receive weekly compensation for a 10-month period, as well as medical reimbursements.
Smith and her husband had been living separately and raising their children together.
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