Blue Mountains mother charged with murder after death of two sons

Trish Smith, 42, pictured with sons Ben (left) and Russell, has been charged with two counts of murder by NSW Police.

A mother has been charged with murder after her two boys were found dead in a Blue Mountains home.

Trish Smith, a mother of two boys who were found dead in a Blue Mountains home in Australia, has been charged with two counts of murder.

Emergency services were called to a house in Faulconbridge on Tuesday following concerns for the welfare of a woman and two children.

The bodies of two boys – Russell, 11, and Ben Smith, 9 – were allegedly found by their father at their Faulconbridge family home the same day.

NSW Police said the boys’ 42-year-old mother was also found at the scene with stab wounds, and was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition.

Smith was released from hospital on Friday and taken to Parramatta Police Station, where she was charged with two counts of domestic violence-related murder, police said.

She was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

It comes after NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed reports the Smith had previously been sacked from a government department job due to mental health issues.

“The information I’ve been given so far is ... the employee was let go from a NSW government agency,” Minns said on Friday.

“It was challenged in the Industrial Relations Commission, the original decision of the government department was upheld, and I believe it was handled appropriately.”

Trish Smith with sons Ben (left) and Russell.

Smith’s personal Facebook page is filled with photos of her and the children together, showing them on frequent bushwalks and beach visits.

The premier said government departments would co-operate with any of the “major inquiries” he forecast into the tragedy.

“Both from the homicide squad and the NSW Police as well as potentially the Coroner’s Court as well,” Minns said.

“If new information comes to light, of course government agencies and the NSW Government will supply that to any independent investigation that takes place. This is a very serious alleged crime.”

The boys’ father Nick Smith, who does not live at the Blue Mountains home, this week expressed disbelief at the tragedy while also calling for privacy.

”The loss of our two beautiful boys has caused unimaginable pain and distress,” he said in a statement.

”Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys and were very much loved by their family and friends.”