Friends of Australian man shocked he killed his kids in Bali

Friends of Damien John Shaw are left in shock after learning of the tragic incident in Bali where the 56-year-old Australian man allegedly killed himself and his two young children. The bodies of Shaw, his six-year-old son, and four-year-old daughter were found inside their bungalow in Kuta, a popular tourist area. Denpasar City police are treating the case as a double murder-suicide, after an autopsy was not performed on the children at the request of their mother.

Initial findings suggest the children died from violent acts, with CCTV footage showing them screaming. Shaw's wife had reportedly filed for divorce in 2022 due to his temperamental nature, though she later revoked the case as she claimed he was showing improvements. There is no medical or psychiatric record of Shaw, only his wife's statement that he was temperamental and anxious.

A friend, Tania Dagnall, noticed that Shaw appeared gaunt and unwell when they last met three months ago in Bali. Dagnall expressed her disbelief and sadness over Shaw's actions, stating that she and her husband could have flown to him for support. Shaw was originally from Perth but had lived in Bali for decades and converted to Islam, adopting a more conservative lifestyle that included abstaining from alcohol and drugs.

Despite his financial stability, friends describe Shaw's marriage as tense in recent months, and they cannot fathom how he could commit such a heinous act. Shaw's body is currently being examined at Sanglah Hospital, and police continue to examine the crime scene and review CCTV footage.