Tragedy struck as a young boy, just shy of four years old, tragically passed away despite efforts to save him. The circumstances surrounding his death were both chilling and heart-wrenching.

The father, aged 48, recounted a disturbing conversation he had with his son. “The boy said red,” he reflected. When asked if the boy wanted to be “red” too, the child reportedly agreed, leading to the father’s incomprehensible actions. According to his confession to his partner, the father carried out the act based on this exchange.

Further compounding the horror, the father later told prison staff that his motive stemmed from a desire for both of them to become spirits together, living as “two ghosts.”

In a courtroom decision that resonated with somber gravity, the man, whose name has been withheld to protect the victim’s privacy, was sentenced by the NSW Supreme Court. Having pleaded guilty to the murder charge, he faces a prison term of up to 28 and a half years.

Justice Paul McGuire set a non-parole period of 18 and a half years, meaning the earliest potential release date for the father would be November 30, 2041. This sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the profound impact it has left on the community.

Justice Paul McGuire imposed a non-parole period of 18 and a half years, expiring on November 30, 2041.

“By killing his own infant, the offender has perversely and egregiously breached the trust, protection and love that (the boy) deserved,” he said on Friday.

The boy’s biological mother died of natural causes in April 2021.

The father recommenced a relationship with his ex-girlfriend six months later and soon started using methylamphetamine.

The couple had previously split in 2014 over his violent behaviour and drug use.

Days before the murder, he accused his partner of infidelity, smashing her phone and assaulting her in the bathroom of his home.

He also expressed delusions that police were watching him, including thinking two loss prevention officers at a supermarket were police in disguise.

Unable to contact his mother, he abandoned his home west of Sydney, taking his partner and son to his aunt’s apartment.

While he was out looking for a place to live, his girlfriend packed her bags and left, calling police to make the domestic violence complaint.

After his arrest while in hospital, he told staff he knew he would be arrested but had no family members to help take care of his son.

He said he tried to kill himself and his son so that the Department of Family and Community Services would not put the child into foster care.

On Friday, Justice McGuire found the man was experiencing bizarre beliefs spurred by paranoia that his son was better off dead than being cared for by someone else.

The man had only made very limited expressions of contrition and remorse.

Recent claims to a forensic psychiatrist that he heard voices telling him to “kill everything he loved” at the time of the murder were inconsistent with statements made to police and hospital staff soon after, the judge noted.

Justice McGuire reduced the non-parole period, however, after finding the man’s time in custody would be more onerous because of his mental illness.

He was also likely to spend it in protective custody because of the nature of his crime.

The judge expressed his condolences to the boy’s family, noting the impact of the murder.

The child’s grandparents described the man’s behaviour as horrific and selfish, while his sister could not comprehend his cruel and heartless actions.

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