Family of alleged home invader accused of stabbing elderly couple in NSW Torrington property speaks out
‘The events of that evening had just left me absolutely floored.’
For the first time, the family of the alleged home invader accused of stabbing a couple at Torrington in New South Wales’ north has spoken out, saying they’re in shock but standing by him.
Reg Trethewey is left struggling to understand how his nephew Joshua Dylan Trethewey, 34, came to be charged with intent to murder Keith Blessing, 75, and his wife Dianne Blessing, 72.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Family stands by alleged home invader shot by victim
“It’s very sad. It’s very hard for our family,” he told 7NEWS
Joshua is accused of forcing his way into the Blessings’ home, stabbing them both, before then allegedly being shot by Keith in self-defence.
Reg says he’d been regularly visiting Joshua, bringing him the devastating news his mother had died from motor neurone disease.
“He said, all right, everything’s OK. And I just said to him, would you like me to pick you up for the funeral? And he was, yeah, quite open to that,” Reg said.
But it was just hours later that night Joshua is accused of attacking the Blessings.
“The events of that evening had just left me absolutely floored, as with everybody else,” Reg said.
Joshua had worked for his uncle as a boilermaker and was well-known in the small town of Deepwater.
“He wasn’t quite a type of fella. He wasn’t really a very outgoing fella,” Reg said.
Joshua’s father died from cancer two years ago. He reportedly once owned land where the Blessings lived.
“Like the rest of us, he had his difficulties. Josh and I had a good relationship, and I want to continue to support him,” Reg said.
Locals in Deepwater described Joshua as a gentle person, with the alleged attack shocking the tight-knit community to its core.
“Very gentle person. This just shocks us all to our core,” one resident said.
“He’s a totally different guy. Pretty quiet, not talking to anyone,” another local said.
“It’s just very devastating what’s happened,” another said.
Trethewey remains in Armidale Hospital being treated for gunshot wounds, while the Blessings are still recovering in a Gold Coast hospital.
The community has rallied behind Keith’s right to self-defence.
“Given the violence that was enacted by the intruder, the community would be absolutely outraged were there any charges laid against Mr Blessing, who, thank God, was able to have that further defence,” Tenterfield Mayor Bronwyn Petrie said.
Ms Blessing praised the actions of her parents during the ordeal.
“We’re very proud of our parents and their bravery. They’re recovering in the hospital here, getting excellent care. We have a long road ahead,” she said on Friday.
“We want to thank the media for their respectful reporting and going forward for respecting our privacy. This is going to be our only statement.”
Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon described Mr Blessing’s actions of self-defence as “quite impressive” given how severe his injuries were.
“Her certainly did his best obviously under very difficult circumstances to defend himself and his partner,” Superintendent McKinnon told reporters on Thursday.
Mr Trethewey was charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and remains under police guard in hospital. He was refused bail and appeared in the Bail Division court via video link on Thursday.
Initial investigations suggest Mr Trethewey is not known to Mr and Mrs Blessing.
The couple are retirees and are well-known in the small community of Torrington.