A fundraiser has been launched to raise funds for Keith and Dianne Blessing, the victims of a violent home invasion in Torrington who defended themselves by shooting their attacker.
A 34-year-old man from Deepwater, Joshua Dylan Trethewey, allegedly forced his way into the Blessings’ home and stabbed both 75-year-old Keith and 72-year-old Diane Blessing in the early hours of Thursday morning. Mr Blessing managed to grab a kitchen knife and wound the alleged attacker, who then briefly left the house. After Triple Zero was called, Trethewey allegedly attempted to force his way back inside, at which point Mr Blessing retrieved a legally owned firearm and shot him once in the abdomen.
The Torrington community gathered this morning at the Torrington Community Hall to hear from police and political leaders, to learn what is going on and to discuss their own concerns around security.
NSW Police Inspector James Parsons, the officer in charge at Glen Innes Police station who overseas the area, first delivered the good news that Diane Blessing was much improved overnight, but had to correct misreporting in the media that Mr Blessing would not face charges for firing the single shot from his long arm weapon.
“I’ve made my own enquiries, I don’t know where that has come from.”
“At this stage, I’m not aware of any, any reason why Mr. Blessing would be charged, but I just have to say that I’m also equally not aware of any police officer who’s come out and said ‘No, Mr Blessing is not being charged.”
The correction sparked an angry response from the crowd with Tenterfield Mayor Bronwyn Petrie saying that the community “would certainly be very supportive of the actions Mr Blessing took”.
“Otherwise we would be looking at two homicides,” she said.
Julie Johnson from the Torrington Progress Society agreed the whole community stands behind that sentiment.
“If he’s charged, they’re going to have to come after all of us,” she said.
Several members of the crowd, which was about half the population of the area, spoke strongly on their feelings that they should be able to defend themselves with force if necessary, and any intruder entering their home should have no rights.
Inspector Parsons said he takes the point and acknowledged it was a very emotive issue in the community.
“I’m sure a lot of people can relate to Keith and Diane and the lifestyle they live – a retired couple enjoying the serenity on their own property, and what’s happened out there to them would be a concern for anyone in a similar situation,” he said.
“What I can say with every confidence is what the incident on early hours Thursday morning, were unthinkable, absolutely unthinkable… and I can assure everyone here that I’ve found myself sitting out of there in the crime scene, scratching my head, going, well, what if that was me?”
Inspector Parsons was very careful not to be drawn to comment on the idea of Castle Law, saying it was a matter for government.
Hundreds of people have asked about donating, or said they would like to donate to support the couple, with some fearing Mr Blessing will face hefty legal bills trying to defend his actions.
The fundraiser, set up by long term resident Sonia Law on behalf of the Torrington Community, is to raise funds to give directly to the Blessings to “help lift some of the burden which they will face”.
Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/keith-and-dianne-blessing
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