Killer father was discharged from the army after concerns about his performance

John Edwards, 68, killed his children Jack, 15, and Jennifer, 13, earlier this month before turning the gun on himself

A financial planner who brutally murdered his teenage children was kicked out of the army due to concerns about his performance. 

John Edwards, 68, killed his children Jack, 15, and Jennifer, 13, in their Sydney home earlier this month before turning the gun on himself.

Edwards was married four times before meeting the children’s Russian-born mother Olga.

Police sources revealed on Wednesday that Edwards was discharged from the Australian Army in the 1970s, according to the Daily Telegraph. 

Officers are now investigating why Edwards was kicked out.

Sources have also revealed Edwards attempted to take out an apprehended violence order against his estranged wife during a dispute over their children, but was unsuccessful.

A senior police officer told the Australian Olga was concerned about Edwards ‘aggressive’ behaviour towards her and her son Jack.

‘Mr Edwards had been very aggressive with his wife and then when her son Jack turned 10 he also started directing that aggression towards him,’ the officer said. 

‘She may have decided running away from him was the best thing she could do.’

The dispute between the couple started in April 2016 before it was seemingly resolved in February.

Edwards was married four times before meeting the children's Russian-born mother Olga (pictured)

Edwards was married four times before meeting the children’s Russian-born mother Olga (pictured)

Jack, 15, (pictured left) and Jennifer, 13, (pictured right) were shot in killed in their Sydney home last week 

It is understood the children told a psychologist they wanted nothing to do with their father, and that Olga Edwards had told authorities that she had contacted police about a risk of abuse of her children – but NSW Police say they have nothing to show that was the case on their own records.

Edwards repeatedly failed background checks at a number of gun clubs prior to the incident, The Daily Telegraph reported, because he had an apprehended violence order on his record.

However, those people rejected by clubs for having such a history can still apply for a Commissioner’s Permit from the NSW Firearms Registry, which had the power to override the red flags that would block a standard application.

That AVO protection order on his history gave the registry the justification to deny him a Commissioner’s Permit on discretionary grounds, but that was not done.

Shooters Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak said the system in place had failed.   

‘He is not unique in that he applied for a licence with an expired AVO and ongoing domestic issues, and after he got his full licence he then applied and got two PTAs, permissions to acquire,’ he said.

The Ku-Ring-Gai Pistol Club rejected Edwards’ application for membership in 2017 due in large part to his history, which potential members are compelled to divulge in their application forms. 

It’s believed Edwards was denied entry to a number of other gun clubs before finally being accepted by the St Mary’s Indoor Shooting Centre after he was granted the Commissioner’s Permit. 

The club released a statement in the wake of the tragedy, expressing their deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by the double murder.

‘Privacy obligations do not permit the centre to publicly disclose the details of individual applications, other than to say they are assessed and processed in strict accordance with the legal requirements overseen by the NSW Police Firearms Registry,’ the statement read.

The permit allowed Edwards to train at the club, a step required on the path to being a licensed gun holder in New South Wales. 

It's believed Edwards was denied entry to a number of other gun clubs before finally being accepted by the St Mary’s Indoor Shooting Centre after he was granted the Commissioner's Permit

It’s believed Edwards was denied entry to a number of other gun clubs before finally being accepted by the St Mary’s Indoor Shooting Centre after he was granted the Commissioner’s Permit

The Daily Telegraph reported that, after this process, Edwards was able to purchase the guns that he would go on to use on his own children in the brutal double murder suicide.

The NSW Government website states a Commissioner’s License can be granted if a legitimate reason for owning a firearm exists, ‘but the legislation does not provide a specific permit or licence and the Commissioner considers it appropriate’.

The Firearms Regulation 2017 also outlines the reasons an applicant would be disqualified from obtaining a license.

They include offences relating to firearms, prohibited drugs, public order or assaults against law enforcement officers and violence. 

Others are offences related to sex crimes, robbery, riot, affray, terrorism and being part of a criminal group.  

The permit allowed Edwards to train at the club, a step required on the path to being a licensed gun holder in New South Wales

The permit allowed Edwards to train at the club, a step required on the path to being a licensed gun holder in New South Wales



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk