The daughters of an elderly couple caught up in a violent home invasion face a long recovery after allegedly being attacked in their NSW home.
Keith Blessing, 75, and his wife Dianne Blessing, 72, were asleep at their home in Torrington, 65km southwest of Tenterfield, when 34-year-old Joshua Dylan Trethewey allegedly broke in about 12.15am on Thursday.
Police allege Trethewey stabbed Dianne in the chest, causing her to collapse, and Keith in the stomach before retreating onto the home’s veranda.
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After Keith called triple-0, Trethewey allegedly attempted to re-enter the house before police arrived.
He was then shot in the stomach by Keith, a licensed firearm holder.
The couple were flown to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
The alleged intruder was also treated for a gunshot wound and taken to Armidale Hospital.
He has been charged with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and was scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court on Thursday.
Initial investigations suggest he was not known to the older couple.
Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon described Keith’s actions as “quite impressive” given the severity of his injuries.
“He certainly did his best, obviously under very difficult circumstances, to defend himself and his partner,” McKinnon said.
The couple’s daughters addressed the media on Friday afternoon, thanking the community for their support during the traumatic ordeal.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported our family. It has been comforting to know we have the support of the wider community,” Kathy Blessing said.
“This has been deeply traumatising to our family and no family should ever have to go through this.”
Kathy praised her parents for fighting through the terrifying attack.
“We’re very proud of our parents and their bravery. They’re recovering in the hospital here, getting excellent care. We have a long road ahead,” she said.
“We want to thank the media for their respectful reporting and going forward for respecting our privacy. This is going to be our only public statement.”
The Blessings are retirees with two daughters and are well known in the small community of Torrington, which had fewer than 100 residents at the 2021 census.
The incident has left locals shocked.
One resident told 7NEWS Dianne was known for leaving fruit at the front gate for passing motorists and neighbours.
The couple have been described by locals as “lovely”, “kind” and “harmless”.
McKinnon said the incident was “extremely rare” in a rural community like Torrington but urged residents to ensure their homes were secure.
Renewed calls for castle law
The terrifying incident has reignited calls for castle law reforms in NSW.
Current NSW laws allow people to act in self-defence, but whether the force used is lawful is assessed on the circumstances of each case.
Supporters of Castle Law argue homeowners should have stronger legal protections when using force against intruders in their homes.
Moree Plains councillor Kelly James, who has campaigned for the reforms alongside Libertarian MP John Ruddick, said the Torrington home invasion highlighted why the changes were needed.
“No elderly couple should ever have to face a violent intruder in their own home, and then wonder whether defending themselves will make them the one that’s under investigation,” James told 7NEWS.com.au.
“How are they ever going to feel safe in their own home again?”
James said introducing Castle Law would affect both homeowners and offenders.
“If castle law was introduced, it would make homeowners less hesitant to defend themselves during the violent home invasion because they have a greater confidence that the law is going to protect them and not prosecute them for defending themselves,” she said.
“It also sends a deterrent message to some of the offenders that are entering occupied homes because that carries a greater risk now.”
She called on lawmakers to introduce the reforms.
“It’s time to put the rights of the law-abiding Australian citizens ahead of the rights of those who choose to terrorise them,” she said.
