Heartbreaking story behind deadly five-hour siege: How eviction and money troubles led to a grandmother's suicide after her husband was shot by a non-lethal round
- Perth woman Janice Croft died in hospital after an alleged self harm incident
- Sheriff's officers arrived at their property on Monday to perform a repossession
- Mrs and Mr Croft allegedly threatened to hurt themselves and attending officers
- A five hour siege ensued and it's alleged police fired a non-lethal round
- After the siege Mrs Croft was rushed to hospital where she died
Crippling debts and legal troubles may have sparked the dramatic five-hour siege which left a grandmother dead and her husband in hospital.
Perth couple Rodney, 64, and Janice Croft, 65, were approached by sheriff's officers who had arrived to repossess their home of 20 years on Monday.
Police allege the grandparents threatened to harm officers and themselves after a sheriff and locksmith arrived at the home in Martin in the city's outer suburbs.
Mrs Croft took her own life within seconds of a non-lethal round, a beanbag, being fired at her husband, police allege.
More details are emerging into an incident which left Janice Croft (right) dead and her husband Rodney Croft (left) in hospital after a five hour siege at their property.
The siege ended at 3pm on Monday when police fired a non-lethal round. Mrs Croft went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to the nearby Royal Perth Hospital where she later died
The spokeswoman said police were treating her death as non-suspicious.
Mr Croft, who suffers from an auto-immune disease, only learned his wife had taken her life later in the day while recovering in hospital, 7 News reported.
Share this article
According to the publication, things turned deadly after the couple saw the locksmith arrive.
Tragically Mr Croft, who suffers from an auto-immune disease, wasn't made aware of his wife's death until later in the day while he was in hospital
Tactical police were called to the scene and as they approached it's alleged Mrs Croft climbed onto a nearby tractor brandishing a firearm.
The repossession was allegedly a result of years of bitter legal disputes and a series of debts reportedly worth upwards of $1 million.
Police arrived at the home at about 9am on Monday before the five-hour siege began.
Mr Croft, a former deputy mayor of Gosnells, remains under police guard at hospital.
Rodney Croft (pictured), a former deputy mayor of Gosnells, remains in police custody following the siege
A Western Australian police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia they weren't treating the death as suspicious and a report was being drafted for the coroner
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
