'Murderous intent': Taekwondo instructor charged over alleged triple murder

A taekwondo instructor has been charged with three counts of murder over the killing of a boy and his parents in Sydney and is set to face a bedside court hearing today.

A man in PPE next to a police van

Forensic officers have combed a taekwondo studio and a home in Sydney after three bodies were found. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

A taekwondo instructor has been charged with three counts of murder over the killing of a boy and his parents in Sydney.

NSW Police said a 49-year-old man, who had been under police guard at Westmead Hospital, had been charged with three counts of murder on Wednesday night.

A bedside hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
An exterior view of a taekwondo studio with a police van outside it
NSW police and forensics officers at the crime scene in Sydney's North Parramatta. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
The boy and his mother were allegedly murdered at the studio before the killer got in his victim's car and proceeded to kill the boy's unsuspecting father at the nearby family home.

The allegations were detailed earlier on Wednesday by homicide detectives who were poised to charge the taekwondo instructor over the "harrowing" murders of the Korean-Australian family on Monday night.

"This was a loving family," Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters.

"It was out of the blue, it was not something that was forewarned or flagged."

The instructor was placed under arrest in Westmead Hospital, where he presented late on Monday claiming stab and slash wounds on his body were from a supermarket car park incident.

NSW Police will allege he assaulted the woman, aged 41, and the child with "murderous intent" in the North Parramatta taekwondo studio on Monday night.

He then allegedly drove her white BMW to Baulkham Hills and fatally stabbed the 39-year-old father of the child, before taking the car to hospital.

He was placed under arrest once the bodies were discovered on Tuesday.
Forensic investigators examining a doorway.
Police forensics officers investigated the crime scene where a woman and a child were killed. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
The child regularly attended the taekwondo studio for lessons, Doherty said.

"We're still establishing what other connections or what other relationships may have been or may not have been," he said, describing Tuesday's discoveries as a "tragic turn of events".

"Three people from one family, it's devastating.

"It's been a harrowing experience for the family and friends of the three victims, they're still dealing with this so I'm not going to speculate on any motive at this stage."

Doherty sought further assistance from the public and encouraged anyone in the vicinity of the taekwondo studio on Monday night who may have seen or heard something to contact investigators.

Anyone with footage of the BMW on Monday night is also asked to contact police.

Share
Published 21 February 2024 11:06am
Updated 22 February 2024 6:32am
Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world