A father who died with his five children in a house fire near Brisbane has been jailed for domestic violence assault, and his partner previously had a restraining order against him, it can reveal.
Wayne Godinet, 34, was killed along with his twins Kyza and Koa, four, Nicky, three, and their two stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, after 6 a.m. Sunday when the fire ripped through a rental property on Queensland’s Russell Island.
The boys’ mother, 28-year-old Samantha Stephenson, and a 21-year-old relative, believed to be her sister, escaped the burning home and were released from the hospital on Monday.
During a news conference on Monday morning, Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said investigators were looking into the cause of the fire and would not rule out suspicious activity.
Superintendent Massingham also said that Mr Godinet was “known to the police” and that officers had been called to the Todman Street rental several times before the fire, but did not say why.
Wayne Godinet (pictured left with Samantha Stephenson), 34, was killed along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, Nicky, three, and their two stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10.
Ms. Godinet (pictured) died after she went back into the house to retrieve her children from the fire.
The fire was so intense that firefighters were only able to collect the remains of the house in the late afternoon after fighting it since 6:18 a.m.
He also did not say if he the father of five was allowed to be in the house on Sunday morning.
In May 2017, an apprehended violence warrant was issued against Mr. Godinet on behalf of Ms. Stephenson.
Three months later, he was sentenced at Lismore District Court to ten months in prison for domestic violence, with a six-month non-parole period.
He was sentenced to another four months for failing to meet the conditions of his bail. The victim of the assault was not specified.
Godinet was hit with a series of restrictions in connection with the order, including one that states that you must not go near it for “at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs.”
The restraining order was supposed to expire in May 2018.
In December 2018, the couple celebrated the birth of their first children together, twin boys Kyza and Koa Godinet. A year later, they welcomed Nicky Godinet into the world.
Mr. Godinet (pictured with his son) was trapped upstairs with the children moments before the second story of the Russell Island home collapsed.
Mrs Stephenson (pictured) was found outside the house in a state of distress
Speaking to the media on Monday, the day after the fire, a close family friend, Peter MacLoughlin, recalled a conversation he had with Ms Stephenson.
“Even though she said they had issues, she said the family was very close and absolutely loved each other,” he said.
Ms. Stephenson’s close friend, Lilly Salter, set up a go finance me to help the mother with the expenses, including the six funerals that she will have to finance.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Slater said: “Samantha just wants the world to know: check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.”
Neighbors said Mrs Stephenson had been sleeping upstairs with the children, while Mr Godinet slept downstairs.
She had managed to escape the flames with a 21-year-old relative, believed to be her sister, but when she tried to run inside to look for her children, she was stopped by Mr. Godinet and re-entered the building at calls.
The fire completely destroyed the property on which it originated and spread to two other houses.
Tributes have been left at the scene of the deadly fire
He was trapped upstairs with four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky and his stepsons, Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, before the second floor collapsed.
Police confirmed on Sunday afternoon that six bodies had been found in the rubble.
The young mother was released from the hospital Monday morning and is cooperating with investigators as they try to determine the cause of the fire.
Police have not yet determined whether the fire is suspicious or not.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham also revealed on Monday that there were several elements of the house fire that required “additional scrutiny” by police.
“In terms of best investigative processes, items that need further investigation or clarification should remain confidential at this stage,” he said.
Officers were stationed outside the house overnight Sunday to protect the six bodies that police believe remain within the charred remains.
“Today we are hopeful of removing the bodies of the six people who tragically perished in this fire yesterday,” Superintendent Massingham said.
Fire investigators remain at the scene of the deadly fire that claimed the lives of five young children and their father on an island off Brisbane.
Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
‘A crime scene has been declared on Todman Street and arson investigators and crime scene personnel are there. Our Disaster Victim Identification Squad has been called in to assist in that process.’
Officers were stationed outside the house overnight Sunday to protect the six bodies that police believe remain within the charred remains.
The fire started around 6 a.m. Sunday and spread to two other homes, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
One house collapsed while firefighters worked to put out flames in another.
About 20 firefighters managed to extinguish the flames in a third home.
Anyone with information or images relevant to the incident is urged to come forward while an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
The Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade was the first to respond to the blaze, and witnesses saw an ambulance and fire trucks board a barge to the island to help.
