Father charged after boy, three, stabbed to death in Riverwood, south-west Sydney

A 45-year-old father will be charged with murder over the stabbing death of his three-year-old son in south-west Sydney. 

Emergency services were called to the Riverwood address at 4pm on Wednesday by a woman related to the father who is understood to also live at the apartment.

Police and paramedics found the toddler’s body inside the unit alongside his father who had serious knife injuries police will allege are self-inflicted. 

Doctors at St George Hospital performed emergency surgery on the man, who is in a stable condition under police guard.

The man will reportedly face a bedside court hearing within the next 24 hours.

Police will allege he stabbed his son before turning the knife on himself.

The man’s partner, who wasn’t at the scene, is speaking with police. 

Amber Macdonald, who lives in a nearby building, told Daily Mail Australia she was shocked to see police swarming the street.

‘It was scary. I felt like I was in America,’ she said.

Ms Macdonald said she was ‘devastated’ to learn about the little boy’s death.

‘How can someone do that?’ she said.

Colleen Du-Rocher, who lives several floors above the unit, said she heard relatives of the father and son screaming when they arrived at the scene.

‘I was shocked to hear a man was here with a child because this block is meant to be for 65s and over,’ she said.

Ms Du-Rocher said she was also devastated, having 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren herself.

‘I was horrified. I nearly fell off the roof,’ she said.

Bilal Fazli from the nearby Riverwood Community Centre arrived with several people who left bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals outside the unit block. 

‘We were all in the office only a couple of 100 meters away and we were all really devastated upon hearing the news,’ he said. 

‘We thought the most appropriate thing we can do is just to show our condolences to the family, to the community, and anyone else that’s affected.

‘We just want to let everyone know that the community center provides counseling services and support to anyone who might need it. And you’re more than welcome.’

Images from the scene show dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes officers and paramedics entering the unit as shocked onlookers stood on the pavement. 

A crime scene has been established and officers from the homicide unit are investigating.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.