A leading WA psychologist says the extraordinary statement made by Aaron Cockman, the father of four children slain in their beds near Margaret River last Friday, pointed to a perfect storm of shock, grief and trauma.
Dr James McCue, a lecturer in psychology and criminology at Edith Cowan University, said some of the comments made by Mr Cockman were an indication the father was suffering a range of emotions.
“He is obviously a man who is grieving and I think it is not just grief but it is also a traumatic loss,” Dr McCue told WAtoday.
“To lose all of your kids ... all in one instance, in one moment, that is very difficult for any individual to actually grasp or comprehend or get their head around.
“Shock isn’t something that wears off quickly,” he said.
“Shock is defined as people experiencing almost a disconnection or a sense of what we call 'derealisation' from what’s going on around them.
“And that is that suddenness, that actually our mind hasn’t caught up with the seriousness or the gravity of what has actually happened.
Dr McCue said it was important for people to realise people grieved and reacted to traumatic events in different ways.
https://www.watoday.com.au/national...-into-father-s-statement-20180516-p4zfkk.html
16 May 2018