Episode 91 - The Edwards Family

2026-02-06

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On 5 July 2018 13 year old Jennifer Edwards and her 15 year old brother Jack Edwards were shot and killed in Sydney in Australia by their father John who then took his own life.A man with a long and documented history of abuse of his partners and children, Edwards' final act of abuse was when his estranged wife - and mother of Jennifer and Jack - Olga took her own life in December 2018.A review found that the deaths of Jennifer and Jack - and therefore Olga - could have been prevented and made recommendations for improvements in the police...

On 5 July 2018 13 year old Jennifer Edwards and her 15 year old brother Jack Edwards were shot and killed in Sydney in Australia by their father John who then took his own life.

A man with a long and documented history of abuse of his partners and children, Edwards' final act of abuse was when his estranged wife - and mother of Jennifer and Jack - Olga took her own life in December 2018.

A review found that the deaths of Jennifer and Jack - and therefore Olga - could have been prevented and made recommendations for improvements in the police and other agency's response to domestic abuse and coercive control.

This is the story of the Edwards Family.

Information and support

Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References

Inquest into the deaths of John, Jack and Jennifer EDWARDS

Friends reveal Olga Edwards had 'no hope' after police failure to act on domestic violence reports - ABC News

‘Litany of Errors’ Enabled Man to Kill His Children, Coroner Finds

John Edwards, who shot dead two children, should not have had gun licence, coroner finds - ABC News

Olga Edwards turned to Rosie Batty after children's Pennant Hills murder - Yahoo News Australia

Killer John Edwards wrote letters to family before shooting teenage children dead - ABC News

Mother of Sydney children murdered by father found dead | SBS News

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