Indonesian police are investigating the deaths of a 56-year-old Australian man and his two young children inside a bungalow in Kuta, according to Bali Provincial Police. Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected double murder-suicide after neighbours forced entry into the property on Sunday morning following a distressed phone call from the children’s mother in Jakarta.
Police Investigation and Crime Scene Details in Kuta
Denpasar City Police carried out a forensic examination of the scene on Sunday. According to Denpasar City Police First Police Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from inside and outside the property and interviewing witnesses to establish the exact cause of death. Senior Commissioner Leonardo D Simatupang stated that enquiries are ongoing. The bodies of Damien John Shaw, his six-year-old son, and his four-year-old daughter were transported to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, where police may conduct autopsies. Bali Provincial Police noted that the family had leased the Kuta bungalow since 2022.
Emergency Response Triggered by Jakarta Phone Call
According to police statements, the emergency response began when the children’s mother, who had recently travelled to Jakarta, contacted a neighbour. While on the phone with Damien John Shaw, she heard a child cry before the call abruptly disconnected and her husband became unreachable. The neighbour contacted other local residents and the community head. Together, they forced the front door of the Kuta bungalow open and discovered the bodies of the man and the two children.
Official Reactions From Australia and Consular Support
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook described the incident as a horrific and confronting situation. According to police records, Damien John Shaw was born in Fremantle, Western Australia. Premier Cook stated that authorities hope to uncover what happened as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family of the three Australians. A DFAT spokesperson offered deepest condolences and noted that the agency cannot provide further comment due to privacy obligations.
Did You Know?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are authorities investigating in Kuta?
According to Bali Provincial Police, authorities are investigating the deaths of a 56-year-old Australian man and his two children as a suspected murder-suicide.
Where was the mother during the incident?
Police stated that the children’s mother had recently travelled to Jakarta and was on the phone with her husband when she heard a child cry and the call disconnected.
Who discovered the bodies?
A neighbour, alerted by the children’s mother, contacted other residents and the community head to force open the door of the family’s bungalow in Kuta.
Where are the bodies undergoing examination?
According to local police reports, the bodies were taken to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar for forensic examinations and potential autopsies.
Support Services
If you or anyone you know needs help, confidential support is available:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978