Dr Sophie Roome: Dad who killed himself and his two-year-old son in murder-suicide after AVO battle with his doctor wife - as tragic new details emerge
- James Harrison and his son Rowan were found dead on Sunday night
- Rowan's mum Sophie Roome is a doctor at the local hospital
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A father who killed himself and his two-year-old son at his home during a planned custody visit have been pictured for the first time - as more harrowing details emerged about their deaths.
James Harrison, 38, a NSW health business analyst and his toddler son Rowan were found dead inside a unit on College Street in East Lismore on the NSW far north coast on Sunday night after police were called to perform a welfare check.
The boy's mother Dr Sophie Roome raised the alarm four hours earlier when her only child wasn't dropped back that afternoon as planned.
The intensive care specialist, who works as a doctor at the local hospital, went to police with initial fears that Harrison may have fled town with Rowan.
An unanswered police knock at Harrison's front door heightened fears.
Several hours later, police returned and forced their way inside, where they found the tragic scene.
It has since emerged that Harrison had a history of domestic violence and an AVO against him to protect Dr Roome was extended by the courts in March.
![Lismore doctor Dr Sophie Roome with her son Rowan, who was tragically killed in a suspected murder-suicide on Sunday night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/09/85141429-13441219-image-a-3_1716280351323.jpg)
Lismore doctor Dr Sophie Roome with her son Rowan, who was tragically killed in a suspected murder-suicide on Sunday night
![The bodies of James Harrison, 38 (pictured) and his son Rowan were found inside the East Lismore unit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/09/85141433-13441219-image-a-4_1716280487176.jpg)
The bodies of James Harrison, 38 (pictured) and his son Rowan were found inside the East Lismore unit
Police have since admitted they walked away when no-one answered the door of the home when they first attended at 5.30pm.
Officers took another four hours after the alert was first raised before they returned to the address under pressure from the boy's distraught mother and her family.
Questions have now been asked about why there was such a long delay in returning to the unit - and why they didn't force their way inside on the first visit.
There was no reply when they tried the door, and a source revealed the officers refused to barge it down despite the desperate family's worst fears.
The source claims the mother was told police were unable to intervene and kick in the door because it was 'a family court matter'.
Local police admitted to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that the officers then returned to their police station to make 'further inquiries'.
Officers finally went back to the address more than four hours later at 9.45pm and found Harrison had set up an elaborate 'poison gas' system to kill him and little Rowan.
![Forensics teams are pictured at the unit on College Street in East Lismore on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/09/85084323-13441219-Forensics_teams_are_pictured_at_the_unit_on_College_Street_in_Ea-a-29_1716279107037.jpg)
Forensics teams are pictured at the unit on College Street in East Lismore on Monday
![James Harrison and his two-year-old son were found dead inside the East Lismore unit, in NSW's Northern Rivers region, on Sunday night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/06/85137189-13441219-image-m-7_1716268863386.jpg)
James Harrison and his two-year-old son were found dead inside the East Lismore unit, in NSW's Northern Rivers region, on Sunday night
![An AVO against James Harrison (pictured) to protect his former partner was extended by the courts in March.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/10/85143263-13441219-image-a-14_1716283716703.jpg)
An AVO against James Harrison (pictured) to protect his former partner was extended by the courts in March.
It's been revealed that Dr Roome had primary custody of Rowan but that Harrison frequently visited his son.
She and Harrison separated last year not long after moving to the Northern Rivers region.
Dr Roome went to Lismore Local Court in August 2023 seeking an apprehended violence order after her former partner showed concerning controlling behaviour following their separation, friends told The Daily Telegraph.
The AVO was extended by the court just two months ago to protect Dr Roome from his ongoing attempts to dictate how she lived her life.
The AVO also banned Harrison from assaulting or threatening Dr Roome, stalking her or destroying her property.
It's understood Dr Roome's family have travelled from Tasmania to support the grieving mother.
Dr Roome had earlier worked a shift at the local hospital on Sunday while Harrison looked after their son.
Harrison portrayed himself as a fan of the great outdoors, with his social media littered with photos from hiking and camping expeditions.
He worked for a number of IT companies before he joined NSW Health in 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile
His current employer is listed as Northern NSW Local Health District.
There are also online rants about Covid-19, terrorism and equality rights.
Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell admitted on Monday the man was known to police for previous domestic violence matters, but not 'significant issues'.
He added: 'A more tragic event you wouldn't come across.
'The father has created a system where both he and the child have passed away as a result of the system he set up.'
![James Harrison (pictured) portrayed himself as a fan of the great outdoors on social media](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/10/85143269-13441219-image-m-16_1716283736518.jpg)
James Harrison (pictured) portrayed himself as a fan of the great outdoors on social media
![Deputy Commissioner Emergency Management Peter Thurtell is pictured addressing media on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/20/03/85084047-13436911-image-a-4_1716173941085.jpg)
Deputy Commissioner Emergency Management Peter Thurtell is pictured addressing media on Monday
The revelation has sparked outrage from members of the public demanding to know why officers took so long to respond and slammed police for suggesting domestic violence matters are not 'significant'.
The source said the mother has described the loss of losing her only child as 'unbearable'.
On Monday, Deputy Commissioner Thurtell said the mother called police at 5.30pm after the father didn't show up for the handover at 4.30pm - however the source said that timeline was incorrect.
'Actually the boy was meant to be handed over at 4pm,' the source wrote online.
'The police went to the house after the mum reported her concerns but [she] was told they couldn't force entry and that it was a custody dispute.
'It wasn't until the mum's parents and a mate of the father who was concerned also went to the police that they went back and forced entry.'
Another source familiar with the situation claimed police were aware during the first knock that the father was home and was not answering the door 'but did nothing'.
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, NSW Police admitted that police had attended the home twice on Sunday.
'About 5.30pm on Sunday 19 May 2024, a concern for welfare was raised at Lismore Police Station,' a NSW Police spokesperson said,
'A short time later, police attended an address on College Street, East Lismore, where they attempted to contact the occupant.
'After the occupant was unable to be raised, police canvassed the area before returning to the police station to conduct further inquiries.
'As a result of further information received, police re-attended the East Lismore property at 9.30pm where they forced entry.'
Details about the father's domestic violence history were aired as Deputy Commissioner Thurtell and Police Commissioner Karen Webb fronted media on Monday to discuss the arrest of more than 550 domestic violence offenders.
The arrests were the result of a statewide blitz targeting the alleged worst domestic violence offenders in NSW after authorities vowed to take more action to combat against violence against women in the wake of the alleged murder of Forbes mother Molly Ticehurst.
![Forensics teams are pictured at the unit on College Street on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/06/85137187-13441219-image-m-8_1716268917667.jpg)
Forensics teams are pictured at the unit on College Street on Monday
However, the announcement sparked backlash as furious Australians demanded answers of the slow police response to the Lismore mother's welfare call and slammed Deputy Commissioner Thurtell over his choice of language.
'Why did it take over four hours after the mother called for the police to do a check, especially if the male was a known DV offender?' one woman wrote online.
'This is beyond tragic.'
'So glad the people enforced to protect us don't believe domestic violence to the point of an AVO isn't a significant issue,' another said.
A third added: 'Any violence, domestic or otherwise, towards another person IS SIGNIFICANT.'
'Great when this is coming from the police.. If this is their attitude no wonder [people] don't bother reporting domestic violence.'
Forensic officers were seen combing the home for evidence on Monday as the community, which is still reeling from the devastating 2022 floods, comes to terms with the tragedy.
A small red tricycle could be seen in the drive way of the unit, next to a four-wheel drive surrounded by police tape.
As investigations continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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