Cairns home of murdered children to be demolished

Sydney: The home where eight children were found murdered in northern Australia will be demolished and a memorial built on the site, news reports said Monday.

Flowers continued to be laid by grieving relatives on the front lawn of the home in a Cairns suburb where four boys and four girls aged between two and 14 years old were found murdered on Friday.

The mother of seven of the children and aunt to one girl found dead, Mersane Warria, 37, was charged with their murder and was ordered Monday by a Cairns court to remain in custody until January 30, when the case will be heard again.

After extensive consultation we will remove the house behind me, local member of parliament Gavin King told reporters.

King said the removal of the house and installation of a memorial would comply with the familys wishes and cultural beliefs relating to spirits on the site, broadcaster ABC reported.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Taylor was also quoted as saying the home would be torn down.

Warria whose full name is Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday is in hospital with 17 stab wounds to the chest and was not required to appear before the court Monday.

The magistrate declined a request from the defence lawyer to have the case heard by the Mental Health Court.

Under Queensland law a doctor can certify a person for an involuntary treatment order if they are satisfied they have a mental illness.

Meanwhile, Warria will have her case heard in January, a court said Monday, as she struggles to come to terms with what happened.

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Cairns home of murdered children to be demolished