Blake Matthew Seers, 38, is accused of taking the lives of his fiancée, Kate Paterson, and their daughter, April, at their Logan residence last Thursday.
Authorities discovered the tragic scene while attempting to reach Seers’ relatives. They found the bodies of Paterson and the young girl inside the family home.
The alarm was raised by witnesses who reported seeing a man, covered in blood, sprinting along a footpath before being struck by a black utility vehicle roughly 300 meters from the residence.
A gruesome trail of blood traced a path from the house, visible in the hours following the alleged incident.
Defense attorney Nicholas Andrews stated that Seers has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and will require medical assistance while in custody.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Andrews described the situation as highly sensitive.
“Our thoughts are with those families and people affected by this tragedy,” he said.
“But at times like this, I just need to remind myself that there is a job to do.
“There are mental considerations here, and we will be ensuring that those are raised through the appropriate legal channels.”
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