Husband accused of murdering Mara Harvey allegedly waited until she finished work, sent work emails

Mother-of-three Mara Harvey was murdered only minutes after her late-night shift at a local Coles ended, police will allege. 

Mrs Harvey, 41, was returning to her home in Perth’s inner-city suburb of Inglewood from her shift stocking shelves at a local Coles at around 11pm on September 3.

Her husband, Anthony Harvey, 24, allegedly murdered her and their three daughters shortly after she arrived home.

The Coles where Mrs Harvey worked is only a three-minute drive from their Coode Street home.

Mara and Anthony Harvey (pictured) were franchisees for Jim’s Mowing, with emails revealing quotes were emailed to clients only hours before the alleged murder 

Neighbours have been devastated by the alleged murders, which saw the death of the couple’s beautiful girls, Charlotte, 3, Beatrix and Alice, 2, and their mother and their grandmother, Beverley Quinn, 74.

Mr and Mrs Harvey ran a Jim’s Mowing franchise.

Mrs Harvey’s friend told Fairfax Media on Wednesday the 41-year-old had supported her husband financially while they started the venture.

Mr Harvey appeared to carry on with business as usual in emails sent from his work email just hours before the alleged murder.  

Quotes sent to the couple’s clients at 6.21pm and 6.37pm on September 3 were signed off from both Mr and Mrs Harvey.

Mara Harvey, pictured right in green, was allegedly murdered only minutes after finishing work

Mr Harvey allegedly murdered his mother-in-law, Beverley Quinn (pictured right), 74, when she arrived the following morning to help get the children ready for the day 

Police allege Charlotte (left), 3, and Beatrix and Alice (second left, right), 2, their mother Mara, 41, and grandmother, Beverley Quinn, 74, were allegedly murdered by Anthony Harvey

The backyard (pictured) where Anthony Robert Harvey, his wife Mara and their three children celebrated Father’s Day – just 24 hours before Harvey allegedly murdered them all

Neighbours of the suburban Perth family recalled hearing the children ‘giggling and playing’ in the yard the day before they were allegedly murdered (pictured)

‘Everything seemed normal – we said hello and they were happily playing in the backyard,’ neighbour Richard Fairbrother said (pictured are floral tributes outside the home)

Neighbours of the suburban Perth family recalled hearing the children ‘giggling and playing’ in the yard the day before they were allegedly bludgeoned to death. 

‘We had someone minding our house who said everything seemed normal…they said they heard the kids and their parents playing a lot in the backyard on the Sunday, which was Father’s Day,’ neighbour Richard Fairbrother said. 

They had lunch, played in the sunshine and the children ran between a backyard swing set and a slippery dip, neighbours said.

But the next morning, police allege Mr Harvey murdered his wife and daughters inside the Bedford home with ‘a blunt object and knives.’

He then allegedly murdered Ms Harvey’s mother, Beverley Quinn, 74, when she arrived the following morning to help get the children ready for the day, as she did most mornings.

Mr Harvey then allegedly stayed at the house with all five bodies for up to six days before he drove 1,500km to Pannawonica, where he then went to police.

Neighbours on Coode Street said they recall seeing Mr Harvey’s Toyota Landcruiser coming and going from the house during the week, up until Thursday. 

Whether he continued his Jim’s Mowing work that week is not known.

Mr Fairbrother said Mr Harvey sometimes complained about money problems and the struggles of owning his own business.

On Father’s Day the Harveys had lunch, played in the sunshine and the children ran between a backyard swing set and a slippery dip, neighbours said (pictured is the backyard)

‘Your loss is a matter of great sorrow, your pain and heartache cannot even [be] imagined,’ one card left outside the Harvey family home read (pictured)

Outside the family home floral tributes (pictured) continue to grow as people stop to pay respects

Police allege Mr Harvey murdered his wife, daughters and mother-in-law inside the Bedford home with ‘a blunt object and knives’ (pictured are Anthony and Mara)

For the past nine months, Mrs Harvey had reportedly been struggling to sell an investment unit she owned in a nearby suburb, possibly to ease their financial woes.

The unit, in Maylands, which she purchased in 2005 for $125,000, had been on the market since January.

‘You will be impressed with this neatly presented 2 bedroom unit on first floor and at the rear of the complex, nice and quiet,’ the real estate advertisement reads.

‘Upgraded kitchen has gas appliances, nice sunny lounge, dining area and bathroom has been re-furbished.’

She also owns a second investment unit in the same suburb, which she bought in 2010 for $265,000, and is currently rented out.

Mr Harvey allegedly murdered his mother-in-law, Beverley Quinn (pictured), 74, when she arrived the following morning to help get the children ready for the day

For the past nine months, Mrs Harvey had reportedly been struggling to sell an investment unit (pictured is the unit building) she owned in a nearby suburb, possibly to ease their financial woes

Jim’s Mowing managing director Jim Penman said they had some trouble getting Mr Harvey to return phone calls, but he was not aware of Harvey’s financial woes.

 ‘Anthony was a well-respected and well-liked franchisee who had given no hint of financial or emotional problems in the many contacts we had with him over the past few months,’ he said.

‘The only suggestion of trouble was his failure on several occasions to respond to phone calls, made as part of our effort to keep in regular contact with franchisees.’ 

Mr Fairbrother and his partner Rebecca Della recalled the last conversation they had with the Harveys before the alleged murder, when they handed back a ball which had gone over the fence.

‘I went over a few times, most recently last month, and they always seemed very close and were always together.

‘It’s quite shocking.’

Ms Della also said she never saw any signs of tension or cracks in the couple’s relationship.

‘Even the week before – they seemed happy and cheerful, I never heard them have any fights,’ she said.

‘They were quiet, except for their kids always playing in the backyard. We never expected anything was wrong.’

Outside the family home, floral tributes continue to grow, as people stop to pay respects.

‘Your loss is a matter of great sorrow, your pain and heartache cannot even [be] imagined,’ one card read.

‘Our love and thoughts go out to you and your family.’ 

Vince Garcia said he was so shocked and angry about the murders he felt compelled to leave a bunch of flowers.

‘My heart is broken. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it on the radio,’ he said.

‘I have two kids of my own, so it really hits home. It’s hard to put into words how devastated I am for them.’ 

The unit in Maylands (pictured), which Mrs Harvey purchased in 2005 for $125,000, had been on the market since January

Friends and former colleagues of Mara and Beverley also paid tribute to two loving mothers who adored their children.

‘Bev and Mara are the kindest of souls. I break down every time I think of how they passed,’ one said. 

The longtime family friend said they were caring people who would help everyone.

A member of the public lays flowers outside the Harvey family home after the massacre

‘Bev would knit and crochet a lot. She would be making things all the time. Bev was very talented in the craft way,’ she said.

‘She was a dedicated mother and grandmother. Bev ran the Morley Primary School canteen to be as close to her girls’ education as possible. 

Mara’s former mining colleague Bjorn Karason said: ‘She was a wonderful, caring person with a fabulous outlook on life. Nothing ever got her down.

‘She had a cracking sense of humour and I valued my time working with her tremendously.’ 

Flowers left by a member of the public are seen outside a property on Coode Street, Bedford

 

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