Originally published April 28, 1960
A WOMAN and her son, aged about 10 years, were bashed to death with an axe in 14th Street, Mildura.
Police have withheld the names of the dead woman and her son.
Police received a call about the tragedy and a short while later had another call about a small panel van overturning near the corner of Cureton and Benetook Avenues.
Soon after 3 o’clock, a police party found a man not far from the overturned van.
At 3.30am he was being questioned at the watch-house.
Another son, aged 14, also attacked with the axe, is in Mildura Base Hospital. His condition is not serious.
The killings were in a newly-built house in 14th Street between Deakin and San Mateo Avenues.
The battered body of the woman was found in one bedroom on the floor.
The boy’s body was in another room in a bed.
Both victims were wearing night attire.
Police placed a guard over the house as soon as the double tragedy was discovered.
A panel van, normally garaged at the house, was missing.
Police were called from their beds when the report of the deaths was received at the station.
They were armed, and wore heavy coats against the bleak wind of the early morning.
Questioning of the man near the overturned vehicle was being carried out by Senior Detective J. P. Barritt, of Mildura CIB, when this edition went to press.
A 49-year-old Mildura salesman subsequently appeared in a specially convened court charged with two counts of murder.
Those killed were identified as Urith Edna Stevens (40), housewife of 14th Street, and Brian Peter Stevens (13), schoolboy, of the same address.
The man charged with their murders is Stanley Victor Stevens, husband of the dead woman.
Det. Barritt told the court that after attending the house the previous morning, he saw the body of a woman lying on the front bedroom floor in a pool of blood. She had severe head and chest wounds.
In another room he saw a boy with similar injuries. This boy was also dead.
Det. Barritt said he took possession of a bloodstained axe found in a hallway of the house.
He said that later, with Sgt F. Kennedy, he went to an overturned vehicle in Cureton Avenue.
After a search the police found Stevens who was taken to the Mildura watch-house.
Det. Barritt said that at the watch-house, Stevens made certain admissions.
During Det. Barritt’s statement, Stevens sat unmoved in the court.
A slightly built man, 5ft 6ins in height, with ruffled hair and wearing an open neck shirt, grey trousers and pullover, and dark rimmed glasses, Stevens said nothing during his court appearance.
Stevens was remanded to Melbourne Petty Sessions on May 6 on the charge of murdering his wife. The other charge was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Det. Barritt was successful in an application that bail for Stevens be refused.
It is expected Stevens will be returned to Mildura for the inquest hearings, probably sometime next month.
