Children's bodies can be brought back home

Asia (from left), Jarius and Grace Osborne with their grandmother. The family wants the children returned to the Waikato for burial. Photo / Supplied

The mother of three children shot dead by their father, in Melbourne, has won the battle to have their bodies returned to her.

However, she has to wait 48 hours until that can happen during which time her former husband's family can choose to appeal that decision.

The bodies of Raj Osborne and his three children Asia, 12, Darius, 10, and Grace, 7, were discovered in their Melbourne north home on April 10 in what police believe was a murder-suicide. All four had gunshot wounds.

A family dispute erupted following the deaths, as Mr Osborne's family fought the children's mother to have the youngsters' bodies returned to them.

The children's mother, who does not want to be named, separated from Mr Osborne several years ago but remains as the children's immediate next of kin.

She has been battling against Mr Osborne's mother, Rameshwari Devi, and his girlfriend, Rima El Bayad, who want all three children to be buried with their father in Melbourne.

But the mother, who is part Maori, wants the youngsters to be laid to rest on Taupiri Maunga, in the Waikato, where she is from and where the children lived before moving to Melbourne.

Speaking from Australia last night, the children's mother said she was relieved the coroner had ruled on her side, and was praying the Osborne family would not make a further appeal.

"I'm hanging in there," she said.

"It's a big relief ... but I won't be fully relieved until I get my children and I'm on my way to New Zealand with them."

The mother, who saw her children's bodies for the first time a week after they were shot by their father, described the moment she finally got to see them.

"It was heartbreaking and devastating. [I felt] defeated.

"Your children are just lying there and you can't do anything to bring them back. It's heartbreaking."

The mother, who spoke of Mr Osborne's violent past, is upset her former mother-in-law, Mrs Devi, has continued to stress her son should be buried next to his slain children.

The children's mother said it was unbelievable Mrs Devi continued to fight for the youngsters' bodies.

"She would like the children to be buried next to their father and she did not want them separated. But I'm not going to have a murderer next to my children.

"She has her son to bury - no one's stopping her from doing her son's burial.

"Nobody's fighting for his body ... she should give me the chance to bury my children."

If successful, the children's mother will have to find up to $60,000 to get the bodies to New Zealand and to pay for their funeral.

A final decision is expected on Wednesday night.

A memorial service for Asia, Jarius and Grace is expected to be held this week at their former school, Roxburgh Park Primary.