Woman charged with murder after allegedly stabbing three children, killing one

A woman has been charged with murdering a young child and attempting to murder two others after an alleged stabbing inside a car in the Blue Mountains.

The woman was charged in a bedside hearing on Tuesday afternoon with murder (DV) and two counts of cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder (DV) over the incident at Valley Heights on Sunday.

A five-year-old boy died at the scene, while two other children – aged 1 and 3 – were critically injured.

Emergency services were called to Waratah Road about 12.45pm after passers-by came across the woman and three children with stab wounds in and around a parked car.

Several members of the public rushed to help, giving first aid while calling Triple Zero.

Paramedics treated the two surviving children and the woman before taking them to Westmead Children’s Hospital and Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

The children currently remain in a critical but stable condition.

Police alleged on Monday that the woman was responsible for the attack and that her own injuries were self-inflicted.

The 42-year-old has been refused bail to appear before Penrith Local Court in November.

Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna previously said investigators believed the children were attacked inside the vehicle, although police did not know why it had been parked at that location.

“I don’t have any rationale or reason as to why that was that location. That will all form part of the investigation,” he said.

Two cyclists were among those who came across the scene, with witnesses describing members of the public desperately trying to help the children.