As it happened: WA news on Monday, September 14
Indonesian police are investigating the suspected murder-suicide of an Australian father and his two children in a rented Bali bungalow.
Three Australians – a 56‑year‑old father and his 6‑ and 4‑year‑old children – were found dead inside a rented bungalow in Kuta, Bali, on Sunday morning. Indonesian police are treating the deaths as a suspected murder‑suicide, and the investigation remains in its earliest stages. The tragedy has drawn an outpouring of sympathy from Australian authorities and has raised questions about the safety of foreign families on short‑term holiday rentals.
According to RNZ, the family had leased the bungalow since 2022. The father, Damien John Shaw, was originally from Fremantle, Western Australia. His wife, who had travelled to Jakarta a few days earlier, called a neighbour after hearing her child cry during a phone conversation with Shaw. The call was cut off, and the wife was unable to reach her husband again.
Media additions
The neighbour, together with other residents and the community head, forced the door open after repeated knocks. Inside, police found the bodies of the father and his children. The bodies were taken to Prof Dr IGNG Ngoerah Central General Hospital in Denpasar for forensic examination. Indonesian police are reviewing CCTV footage from inside and outside the property and interviewing witnesses, including the wife, to establish the exact cause of death.
"We know there is a very confronting situation there," said Western Australian Premier Roger Cook. RNZ
The Kuta police have conducted a preliminary crime‑scene investigation alongside the Denpasar Police Identification Team. Senior Commissioner Leonardo D Simatupang said the investigation involved forensic processing, CCTV review, and witness questioning. He added that the wife had been interviewed and that the Australian consulate had been coordinated with.
While Indonesian police have not released a formal statement, initial reports suggest that the two children may have died as a result of violence and that the father is suspected of having taken his own life by hanging. The case remains classified as a suspected murder‑suicide, and no charges can be laid as the suspected perpetrator is deceased.
"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time," a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said. RNZ
Australian media outlets have echoed the police description. BBC News reported that the wife had called a neighbour after hearing her child cry, and that the neighbour and other residents forced entry after no response. The BBC also noted that the investigation had not yet determined the cause or manner of death and that further examinations were planned.
In addition to the Bali tragedy, the WA live blog on Monday, September 14, highlighted several local stories: Woodside Energy director Mark Cutifani resigned after seven months on the board; the Swanbourne hospice reached practical completion; the state’s only brick manufacturer rationed supplies amid a housing shortage; Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson is leading the race to win the award for best player of the AFL finals series; and the City of Perth council will finally hear the outcome of a five‑month investigation into its behaviour. These items were covered in the Watoday live blog.
Timeline of Events
- Sunday, 8:30 am – Wife in Jakarta calls neighbour after hearing child cry; call cuts off.
- Sunday, ~10:14 am – Neighbour and residents force entry into Kuta bungalow; bodies discovered.
- Sunday – Indonesian police conduct crime‑scene investigation and forensic processing; bodies taken to Prof Dr IGNG Ngoerah Hospital.
- Sunday – Kuta and Denpasar police interview witnesses and review CCTV footage.
- Monday – Australian consular assistance confirmed; DFAT issues condolences.
What to Watch Next
- Autopsy results from Prof Dr IGNG Ngoerah Hospital, expected to clarify cause of death.
- Coronial findings in Indonesia, which will determine if the incident is officially classified as murder‑suicide.
- Any statements from Australian authorities or the father’s family, particularly regarding the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.
- Potential policy reviews on short‑term rental safety for foreign families in Bali.
The case underscores the vulnerability of international families in holiday destinations and the importance of rapid welfare checks. Indonesian police have reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that further evidence will be examined before any conclusions are drawn. As the world watches, the families and authorities await the forensic verdict that will bring a measure of closure to a tragic weekend.
