There’s no cliché about what to do when one parent is accused for a child’s death. On Wednesday morning, family and friends gathered in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney to say goodbye to two boys allegedly slain by their mother this month.
Nick Smith conducted the burial of his boys Russ, 11, and Ben, 9, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Springwood. The brothers will have eternal rest in the same casket.
Lawson’s Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School students had the day off and attended the service in Penrith Panthers jumpers. Children brought two white flags with crosses commemorating their deceased friends to church.
Photographs of each youngster hung atop Panthers jerseys in the cathedral. The 900 mourners watched Mr. Smith, a pallbearer, give a video eulogy.
He recalled Russell’s love of pretending to play for the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium with his father calling the game.
