The father of a woman accused of murdering her two sons had ‘no idea’ his daughter had mental health issues, and he is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Trish Smith, 42, has been charged with murdering her sons Russell, 11, and Ben, nine, at their Faulconbridge home, in NSW’s Blue Mountains on September 10.
The boys’ lifeless bodies were found by their father; Ms Smith’s estranged husband Nick.
Ms Smith was also found with self-inflected injuries and remains in custody.
Her father Geoff Densmore has shared his distress over the deaths of his two grandsons.
‘We really don’t know what happened. We had no idea she was unwell. Many prayers and private masses have been said for her,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.
‘The kids, they were special kids, so special. I have to put them under the ground. I still can’t understand Ben … Russell. They’re gone.’
Mr Densmore, a real estate valuer, harboured no anger towards his daughter, adding he and his wife Linda, a retired primary school teacher, did not know she had any mental health issues.
Trish Smith (right) has been charged with murdering her sons Russell, 11, and Ben, nine, (pictured together with their father Nick) at their Faulconbridge home, in NSW’s Blue Mountains on September 10
‘Linda, she’s not good, she’s very religious. She’s praying. I think I might crack one day but I’m trying not to. I’m trying to be strong for everyone,’ he said.
Mr Densmore has not spoken to his daughter since the alleged murders.
He and son-in-law Nick, who he described as being in a ‘bad way’, now have the grim task of arranging the funeral for Russell and Ben.
Solicitor Paul McGirr earlier told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Smith had texted her estranged husband the night before the boys’ alleged murders, telling him she loved him.
‘The kids were obviously in bed and she was going to bed and she sent him a message saying ”I love you”,’ Mr McGirr said.
‘He sent her a message saying he loved her.
‘He wasn’t living in the house but I think it was a very amicable split and he was still very hands-on and they were raising the kids together.’
The two boys were found dead by their father Nick last Tuesday
Mr McGirr did not know how long the couple had been separated but said until last week’s horrific events much of the parenting was shared and had continued as normal.
‘He was very close to the boys, they’d go on outings, he’d cook meals for them,’ Mr McGirr said.
‘They were just raising the kids in a separated fashion but very amicably. That’s why it’s so important that everyone in the entire family is given support.
‘The whole family on both sides, her family and his family, have been extremely supportive of her.’
In January 2020, Smith was dismissed from her NSW government job as a Senior Land Services Officer in Greater Sydney after becoming unable to fulfil her duties due to complications from post natal depression and anxiety.
She launched a two-year court battle against her employer for unfair dismissal, which she ultimately lost in November 2023.
The mother had claimed she was fired due to ‘workplace-related injuries’ after she experienced anxiety due to discrimination and bullying.
However, the Fair Work Commission ruled her mental health issues originated at home following the birth of her second child.
According to court documents, she had been employed by Land Services since 2005 and had no issues until she returned to work in 2016.
After giving birth to second son in 2015, she developed post-natal depression and started to experience a shift in her feelings towards 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, with a psychologist noting after a session: ‘lost confidence after maternity leave finished’, ‘teary – since having kids’, and ‘been feeling this way since youngest born.’
The following month, on July 27, she made a workers compensation claim for psychological injury after she had a panic attack due to a matter at work.
Her employer initially rejected the claim, before arrangements were later made to pay her a backdated weekly compensation for a period of six months and additional medical expenses.
Two years later, she made a further two claims – in July and November 2019.
In the first, she claimed she was experiencing ‘reactive anxiety’ and a ‘flare in her symptoms’ after an annual career development meeting with a manager.
Fourth months later, she launched another claim after she was given a letter from her employer proposing she take medical retirement.
Both claims were initially denied before it was later settled she would receive weekly compensation for a period of 10 months as well as medical reimbursements.
Smith and her husband had been living separately and raising their children together
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