Two men accused of beating another man to death in front of terrified students outside a Melbourne primary school were once the alleged victim’s stepsons.
Connor Edmund Harnett, 21, and Liam Robert Harnett, 22, allegedly attacked their estranged stepfather, Andre Szep, 63, with their fists and a pole or metal torch on June 12, and were remanded in custody after being charged with recklessly causing injury.
Mr Szep died in hospital six days after the alleged assault, which took place in a reserve behind Strathaird Primary School in Narre Warren South at about 3.15pm, and was witnessed by children being picked up by their parents.
But on Sunday a family source told the Daily Mail there was more to the story and claimed the alleged attack occurred after “years of suffering and abuse”, but said they did not condone the violence.
“No one did anything, no one helped [the stepsons],” they claimed.
“[Mr Szep] did all sorts of things … stalking, surveillance, breaking into emails.”
The brothers’ father Shane Harnett confirmed to the Herald Sun Mr Szep was their stepdad “quite some time ago”.
“I’m gutted because a failure of the system is what’s created this, that’s all I can say,” he said on Sunday.
“I don’t know exactly the situation or anything like that. I’ve got to leave it up to the boys’ lawyers, I’m not going to mess my sons’ cases up.”
After the alleged attack the principal wrote to parents of the 760 students at the school offering support.
“You may be aware of an alleged assault that occurred in Strathaird Reserve next to our school,” the letter to families read.
“If your child witnessed the incident and you feel they need wellbeing support, please reach out to me … or the Assistant Principals and we will arrange it.”
Victoria Police said after Mr Szep’s death on June 18 there was a possibility of alternate charges once a post-mortem was complete, and both accused are set to face court again next month.
Header image: Left, Andre Szep. Right, Strathaird Primary School (Google Maps).
