The uncle of two young boys killed with their mother in a horror car crash allegedly assaulted two men – leaving one fighting for life – just hours after their joint funeral.
Nathaniel Schmetzer, 11, and his younger brother Jeremiah, 10, were farewelled in a ceremony at Leeton, in southern NSW, on Saturday, almost three weeks after they were killed alongside their mother Tania Murphy, 36, and cousin Malakai, 12.
All four died after Ms Murphy drove into a telephone pole not far from her home in Yanco on April 4.
Police will allege Ms Murphy left her house after her boyfriend, Dean Ingram, broke in and threatened her.
Now, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the grieving family was dealt a second blow on the day of the two boys’ funeral.
At about 8pm that day, just seven hours after the children were laid to rest, their uncle Jack Schmetzer, 30, allegedly assaulted Dale Mcpherson, 55, and his son John, 36, at a Yanco property.
Jack Graham David Schmetzer, 30, (pictured) has been charged after allegedly assaulting two men hours after his nephews’ funeral
Nathaniel (left) and his brother Jeremiah (right) died on Tuesday April 4 with their mother, Tania Murphy, and her nephew Malakai Murphy
Paramedics rushed the pair to Griffith Hospital, where Dale was treated for cuts to his arm and legs.
John – who allegedly suffered a 10cm gash at the back of his head, fractured skull, brain bleed and 5cm cut on his lip – was later airlifted to Sydney’s St George Hospital in a critical condition.
John is understood to be in an induced coma. Daily Mail Australia understands police will also allege Schmetzer threatened John’s sister, Monique, when she tried to intervene during the attack.
Schmetzer was arrested by police about 6.20pm the day after the funeral.
He was taken to Leeton Police Station, where he was charged with a series of assault charges including reckless wounding.
Tania Murphy, 36, (pictured) died alongside her sons and nephew when her car flipped into an embankment on April 4
John Mcpherson, 36, (left) and his father Dale, 55, (right) were allegedly assaulted by Schmetzer
Police were called to an alleged attack in Yanco on Saturday night. Pictured is Tania Murphy’s Cudgel street home – which is coincidentally on the same street where the Mcphersons were allegedly assaulted
He was remanded in custody to appear in Griffith Local Court on Monday, where he was refused bail.
Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of mourners packed into St Peter’s Anglican Church in Leeton to say their final goodbyes to Nathaniel and Jeremiah.
Two small blue caskets adorned with flowers sat at the front of the hall as mourners heard how the boys ‘always saw the best in life’ and loved fishing, skiing, and camping with their families on the weekends.
Aboriginal flags were hung up behind the coffins, which were also featured photos of the two siblings sitting on top.
After the ceremony, loved ones released blue helium balloons up into the sky. The boy’s cousin, Malakai, was farewelled at a service in Griffith on Thursday.
Police will allege Schmetzer threatened Monique Mcpherson during the assault
Devastated loved ones held a memorial for Ms Murphy, her sons and nephew on Saturday
Blue helium balloons were released into the sky in honour of Nathaniel and Jeremiah
Ms Murphy, a mother-of-six, was driving her hatchback about 11.15pm on April 4 when tragedy struck just a few kilometres from her home.
The following day, Mr Ingram and his mother Wendy Chattaway, 50, were arrested as part of police investigations into the crash.
Ms Chattaway was later released without charge while Ingram was charged with allegedly kicking in the back door of Ms Murphy’s home moments before the accident.
He was charged with two counts of stalking with intent to cause harm, and one count of aggravated break and enter and refused bail in Griffith Local Court.
The tragedy has rocked the small community as it comes to the terms with the quadruple fatality and subsequent arrests, with feuds since erupting online between local families.
Daily Mail Australia understands there has also been family tensions over funeral arrangement for Ms Murphy and the boys, with some relatives electing to make alternative memorial services.
Schmetzer is next due to appear in court on May 6 while Ingram’s matter will be heard in the same court on June 8.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk