By Erin Edwards
Police in Australia are investigating whether a teacher from a prestigious boys school threw his two-year-old son to his death from a Brisbane bridge before taking his own life.
If true, it's the second murder suicide at the same bridge in less than six months.
A witness saw Jason Lees, 40, ride his bike onto the Story Bridge at 6.30am (NZT) this morning, with his son in the child safety seat.
He then watched as the teacher pulled over, picked up his son and threw him over the railing – a 35m descent. Lees then followed.
Brisbane Detective superintendent Mick Niland says the deaths were hard on their family.
“The family are suffering immense grief at the moment.”
Family and friends have told police they did not see this coming and Lees was not being treated for mental illness, nor showed any signs of depression.
The suspected murder suicide happened near one of 22 security cameras on the bridge, but the view was partially obscured.
Lees taught children not much older than his own son at East Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School.
In a statement the school’s principal said Lees was a “highly regarded and much loved teacher whose kindness to his students, his gentlemanly approach and enthusiasm for teaching were appreciated by students, parents and his colleagues”.
The deaths come just five months after a Brisbane schoolgirl and her mother died, in a murder suicide off the same bridge.
Channel 7