The tragic deaths of two teenage brothers and their parents in a suspected murder-suicide in Mosman Park have left the Perth community in shock, with school newsletters now revealing the boys' happy childhoods before the devastating incident.
School Newsletters Paint Picture of Happy Childhood
Brothers Leon and Otis Clune, aged 16 and 14 respectively, were identified as the two boys found dead alongside their parents Jarrod and Maiwenna in their Mosman Park home on Friday. While police investigate what appears to be a double murder-suicide, school newsletters from their time at Claremont's prestigious Christ Church Grammar School show both boys were thriving students who enjoyed life's simple pleasures.
Outdoor Adventures and Simple Joys
In pre-primary, youngest brother Otis wrote enthusiastically about his love for outdoor activities. "I love to climb in the mulberry tree and the tree down at the river. I like to go on the swings. I love cooking and eating it!" he wrote in a school newsletter. Two years later, exploring the river remained a favourite activity for the then-six-year-old, and he later received one of the school's "Building Good Men Awards."
Teachers noted Otis's positive attitude, with one writing: "Your warm greeting every morning makes my day! You also do a wonderful job independently carrying out your morning routine."
Brother's Similar Love for Nature
Eldest brother Leon shared his younger brother's fondness for the outdoors, also enjoying "exploring down at the river" in 2017 according to school records. In 2019, he wrote about his favourite pastime being playing with friends on the oval, and proudly noted: "This year I learnt how to communicate with my device. I love sitting with my friends during chapel and assembly."
Both brothers were understood to have participated in the school's special needs program, with police confirming they had "significant health challenges." Their father Jarrod is believed to have also attended Christ Church Grammar School, continuing a family connection to the institution.
Parents' Pride in Their Boys
The boys' parents clearly took pride in their sons' progress and happiness, using social media to share pictures of the brothers enjoying the outdoor activities they loved so much. From riding a trike in the backyard to giving their father a kiss at the beach and running together by the ocean, the images show an idyllic family life that contrasts sharply with the tragic events that would unfold years later.
These happy memories from school newsletters and family photographs make the suspected murder-suicide that claimed all four family members' lives even more heartbreaking for the Mosman Park community and beyond.
