A heartbroken father whose wife and four children were slaughtered in Australia’s worst murder-suicide has explained why their grandfather shot them in their sleep.
Aaron Cockman’s wife Katrina, their four autistic children and his in-laws were found dead at a remote farm Osmington, Western Australia last month.
His wife’s father, Peter Miles, had shot them in their beds at around 4am before waiting an hour, calling police and turning his rifle on himself.
In an tear-jerking interview, Mr Cockman has said he thought Miles carried out the slaughter because he wanted to die and did not want the children to be saddened by his death.
Aaron Cockman’s wife Katrina, their four autistic children (pictured) and his in-laws were found dead at a remote farm Osmington, Western Australia last month
Miles left a bizarre suicide note (pictured) on the kitchen table that appeared to taunt Mr Cockman about the death of his children. It read: ‘Ex-husband, Aaron Cockman to have house content.’
‘It solves the problem. It solves his problem. How do I get rid of myself without everyone, all the kids suffering,’ Mr Cockman told Channel Seven’s Sunday Night.
‘If you actually thought in your head that you just cannot possibly live anymore. I just want to kill myself, I want to kill myself, but I can’t, but I can’t, because I don’t want the kids to suffer.’
Miles was suffering from depression after one of his sons had killed himself and another was taken seriously ill with kidney failure.
Mr Cockman explained that his children Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Arye, 12, and Kadyn, eight, were very close to their grandparents, suggesting Miles knew they would be devastated if he killed himself and left them behind.
Mr Cockman was living alone and in a custody battle after splitting from Katrina before the tragedy. Katrina had moved herself and the children into her parents’ farm.
Mr Cockman (pictured with his wife, mother and children) said he thought Miles carried out the slaughter because he wanted to die and did not want the children to be saddened by his death
Mr Cockman explained that his children Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Arye, 12, and Kadyn, eight, were very close to their grandparents. Pictured: The children in a home video
Mr Cockman was living alone and in a custody battle after splitting from Katrina before the tragedy. Pictured: His son Kayden
Katrina had moved herself and the children into her parents’ farm. Pictured: Son Rylan
Mr Cockman’s mother – who was also interviewed on the show alongside her husband, his father – said she thought Miles killed the children to stop Mr Cockman taking custody.
‘He wanted those children to be with him and Cynda,’ she said. ‘He would have to kill them all so that they weren’t left on their own with Aaron. That’s how much he hated Aaron.’
Miles left a bizarre suicide note on the kitchen table that appeared to taunt Mr Cockman about the death of his children. It read: ‘Ex-husband, Aaron Cockman to have house content.’
In one heart-breaking section of the interview, Mr Cockman described his children in the present tense, calling them beautiful, quirky and unique.
He then had to remind himself that his children were dead and broke down in tears.
He said: ‘They are all such interesting kids.. were.’
Mr Cockman was estranged from the family, and was at work as a concreter when he heard about their deaths – being told by a colleague who had heard it on the radio
Mr Cockman said Peter Miles (centre) – Katrina’s father – was supporting her in their lengthy battle over custody rights
Peter and Cynda Miles applied for a Violence Restraining Order against Mr Cockman after they said he was following them. Pictured: Kayden
Mr Cockman, was at work as a concreter when he heard about their deaths from a co-worker.
‘They said “hey have you heard on Triple J? Four kids and three adults”,’ he told Sunday Night.
‘My heart just dropped. I said “yeah, I think that’s my kids”‘,’ Mr Cockman said before breaking down in tears.
Mr Cockman said he believes his children would still be alive if family court orders had been enforced.
He said Peter Miles – Katrina’s father – was supporting her in their lengthy battle over custody rights.
‘Myself and the kids and Kat, and even Peter and Cynda suffered so much through the court system.
Mr Cockman said he believes his children would still be alive if family court orders had been enforced
In one heart-breaking section of the interview, Mr Cockman described his children (pictured) in the present tense, calling them beautiful, quirky and unique
‘And for Peter to actually take on a farm with all my kids on it and be the father figure, it’s a lot of pressure on someone that is not mentally capable and shouldn’t be in that situation.’
Peter and Cynda Miles applied for a Violence Restraining Order against Mr Cockman after they said he was following them.
The order was eventually dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Mr Cockman claimed the Miles told him he would never see his children again.
He also said Peter was stressed about family dramas, including his critically ill son Neil who needed a kidney transplant.
Mr Miles’ son Shaun killed himself in his early 20s, and Mr Cockman said Mr Miles would be devastated at the prospect of losing another son.
Mr Cockman claimed Mr Miles had ‘switched off’ during the killings – ‘just like killing a sheep’.
‘I was out at the high school farm many times with him, killing sheep, and it’s like, Peter, he just shut [his] mind off, and I know that’s what he was done, he has shut his mind off, no feeling.’
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Aaron Cockman’s wife Katrina, 35, their four children Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Arye, 12, and Kadyn, eight, were all found dead at a farm in remote Osmington, Western Australia