The father of murdered Western Australian children Taye, Rylan, Ayre and Kayden Miles has spoken to media for the first time, saying he is “filled with tremendous sadness” but isn’t angry at his ex-father-in-law.
The four children were found dead at their Margaret River home on Friday, along with their mother Katrina Miles, their grandmother Cynda Miles, and grandfather Peter Miles.
Speaking to media on Sunday, Aaron Cockman revealed his one piece of solace in the tragedy was that “all the kids died peacefully in their beds”.
“I had one question this morning, I just asked … was Kayden in his own bed or was he sleeping with Kat?” he said.
“He’s still at that age where he still sleeps with Kat and I was told ‘yes’, he was in Kat’s bed.”
Cockman also spoke out about his ex-father-in-law, who owned all three firearms found at the Osmington property.
“I still love who Peter was. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have Katrina, I wouldn’t have her kids,” Aaron Cockman told reporters, speaking publicly for the first time since the tragedy,” Cockman said.
“So it’s not some random guy off the street who’s taken them away from me – he gave them to me and now he’s taken them away.
“If it had to happen, there is no better person than that.”
Earlier today, the Miles family released a statement saying they were “still trying to understand how this could happen”.
“We are devastated by this shocking event,” the statement read. “We are stunned and still trying to understand how this could happen.
“We respectfully ask that the community refrain from speculating on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
“We thank the community for their support and ask that our privacy is respected as we grieve.”
Police were called to the harrowing scene at the rural property on Friday morning. There, they found one victim outside and an adult female dead inside the main house. The bodies of a female adult and four children were found in the converted shed.
They are treating the incident as a murder-suicide.
If you feel depressed or need to talk to someone, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au. You can also call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.