A Small Town in Shock: Mother of Six Killed in Murder-Suicide

Residents of the quiet town of Bordertown, located about 270 kilometers southeast of Adelaide in South Australia, are grappling with a heart-wrenching tragedy that has left the community in shock. Police discovered the bodies of 41-year-old Shafeeqa Husseini and her husband, Mirza, in their home on Melvyn Street during a welfare check over the weekend.

According to South Australia Police, the couple’s six children were not present at the time of the incident. Acting Assistant Commissioner Cath Hilliard confirmed that Mirza had murdered his wife before taking his own life. She noted that the couple had a history of domestic violence, with Shafeeqa having been involved in a previous incident earlier in the year. However, there were no current court-imposed restrictions preventing contact between the pair.

The tragedy has sent ripples through the tight-knit community. Neighbors and local leaders have spoken out about the impact of the incident on the family and the broader community. Neighboring resident Merrilyn Newman shared that the Husseini family had moved to Australia from Afghanistan about 15 years ago and that some family members were working for JBS Meatworks.

“It’s devastating, it’s really sad – especially because they are from so far away, so as far as relatives and someone to lean on, you haven’t got it,” Newman said.

Adeel Khan, the manager of the Bordertown Islamic Community Centre, praised Shafeeqa for her kindness and community spirit. “She was a very good cook, so we used to request her and she used to cook food for our community,” he said. “It is really sad news … whatever has happened is not good, it’s a massive shock. It’s a small community, everyone knows each other … so we will be missing these guys.”

As the community mourns, questions remain about the circumstances leading to the tragedy. While the couple had a history of domestic violence, there were no current legal restrictions in place at the time of the incident. This has sparked a broader conversation about the importance of ongoing support for families in crisis and the need for stronger community networks to help those in need.

For now, the people of Bordertown are left to grieve the loss of a mother, a wife, and a cherished member of their community. As one neighbor put it, “This is not just a tragedy for one family, but for the entire town.”