BL00DY SCENARIO IN TORRINGTON — Elderly couple critically st@:bbed, husband fights to open fire in “self-defense” amidst the darkness of the night
A horrific home invasion occurred at a private residence in Torrington, approximately 65 kilometers southwest of Tenterfield, early Thursday morning, when an unknown assailant launched a violent attack on an elderly couple.
Around 12:15 a.m., 34-year-old Joshua Dylan Trethewey allegedly forced entry into the home of a 75-year-old man and his 72-year-old wife. In a fit of aggression, the suspect stabbed the woman in the chest and slashed the man across the abdomen. Despite his severe injuries, the husband managed to grab a kitchen knife to fight back, forcing the attacker to retreat to the verandah.
The homeowner then called triple-zero, loaded a rifle, and shot the intruder in the stomach when the suspect attempted to re-enter the house.
Local police from Tenterfield and Glen Innes, alongside paramedics, rushed to the scene. The victims were treated for stab wounds before being airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital in critical condition; both are currently undergoing emergency surgery. The suspect, Trethewey, was transported to Armidale Hospital under police guard in a serious but stable condition.
New England Police District Commander Superintendent Chris McKinnon confirmed that Trethewey has been charged with two counts of wounding with intent to murder and will face justice once medically cleared. Superintendent McKinnon praised the homeowner’s courageous response: “He certainly did his best, obviously under very difficult circumstances, to defend himself and his partner,” adding: “It’s quite impressive that he was able to do that, given the extent of the injuries that he had suffered.”
To those who knew them, the victims were known for their gentle nature. A lifelong best mate of the elderly man shared his shock on 2GB radio: “Some mongrel comes in and does this to him … they’re bloody crook, I cannot believe [it],” and added: “They put fruit out the front for people to come and get, so they can look after their neighbours and all of this stuff, bloody hell.”
Currently, police have established a crime scene and are conducting an investigation into the circumstances leading to the attack. Authorities noted that the 75-year-old man is a licensed gun holder.
