Traumatised father of girl shot dead ‘has not slept for five days’

A traumatised father has broken down in court as he faces charges after the shooting death of his three-year-old daughter in her western Sydney home.

The 43-year-old Arncliffe man has been ordered to receive urgent psychiatric assessment after his defence lawyer told the court he hasn’t slept in the five days he has been in police custody since the shooting.

“I have never seen anyone in such a bad way in custody before. He is beside himself. He can’t think, he can’t talk,” barrister William Barber told reporters outside Blacktown Local Court today.

“The anguish that he exhibits is terrible.”

The distressed father sat sobbing and shaking in court, interrupting the magistrate several times during court proceedings.

“I am so sorry, your honour …. I am so sorry,” he said.

“Let me see my daughter one more time, please …”

The 43-year-old man is facing several firearm offences and contravening an apprehended violence order following the incident last Sunday.

Emergency services were called to the home in Danny Road in Lalor Park about 8pm after reports of a gunshot.

The girl's three young brothers, all aged eight and under, her parents and another family member were home at the time.

It is not yet known who pulled the trigger.

"The death of a three-year-old child under any circumstances is tragic," Quakers Hill Police Superintendent Paul Carrett said on Monday.

"We'd like to take the opportunity to reiterate the need to keep firearms safe at all times and keep them stored in accordance with the legislation."

Supt Carrett said police could not divulge who owned the firearm, where it was found and under what circumstances it was in the house.

He said a report would be prepared for the coroner.

The court today ordered the man receives psychiatric treatment and a full medical assessment before the case returns to court.