Four dead in suspected murder-suicide

MELBOURNE - "There are no tears in heaven, only angels ... and that's where those sweet angels are. R.I.P Asia, Jairus and Grace."

Facebook pages have sprung up mourning three children found shot dead with their father in Melbourne yesterday.

Rajesh Osborne, 37, was found dead in the bedroom of his Roxburgh Park home, with a firearm and the bodies of his three children - Asia, 12, Jarius (also known as Jairus), 10, and Grace, 7 - beside him.

All four died of shotgun wounds.

Police will continue investigating after saying yesterday they suspected the father had killed his three children and then himself.

"When a father takes the lives of his own three children, I can't comprehend it and I don't think anyone in the community can comprehend it," Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles said.

Neighbours described the father and his children as a happy family who had been laughing and enjoying life just the night before their deaths.

A website page set up by Jarius' best friend is filled with messages mourning the young boy and his sisters. "R.I.P Jairus, you Grace and Asia will be sadly missed xxx," says one.

A neighbour simply says he can't believe it, echoing the shocked and bewildered sentiments of neighbours and friends gathered at the Osbornes' Johnson Court home.

The children's mother lives separately and was notified of the deaths by police. The bodies were discovered by Osborne's girlfriend, her young daughter and his mother on Saturday after they returned from shopping.

Police were baffled by the deaths, with Osborne described by neighbours as being a happy and fit man who was incredibly proud of his children.

Next-door neighbour Vasa Ikenaiso said the family, who moved to Melbourne a few years ago, had shown no signs of being unhappy.

They had been at her house the night before and were laughing and enjoying life, she said.

Osborne's partner and mother said they were completely baffled.

- AAP