Family of couple stabbed in NSW home invasion ‘deeply traumatised’

The daughter of a NSW couple stabbed in their home says they have a “long road ahead” and the family has been “deeply traumatised”.

Keith and Di Blessing, both aged in their 70s, were inside their home in Torrington, south-west of Tenterfield, just after midnight yesterday when 34-year-old Joshua Dylan Trethewey allegedly entered and stabbed them both with a knife.

The daughter of Keith and Di Blessing, who were injured in a home invasion at their property in Torrington, has thanked the community for their support. Nine

Keith was able to fend the alleged attacker off with a knife before shooting him when he attempted to reenter the property.

The couple were treated at the scene before being airlifted to the Gold Coast. They remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Today, the couple’s daughter Kathy thanked the community for their support.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported our family,” she said.

“It has been comforting to know we have the support of the wider community.

“This has been deeply traumatising to our family and no family should ever have to go through this.

“We are very proud of our parents and their bravery.

“They’re recovering in the hospital here getting excellent care. We have a long road ahead.

“We want to thank the media here for their respectful reporting and going foward, for our family’s privacy.”

Husband shot intruder before police arrived

Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon yesterday told 2GB Keith was able to retrieve a knife despite his wounds, and wounded the 34-year-old in the confrontation.
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The alleged attacker, who police say is not known to the couple, went out onto the property’s verandah while Keith was able to call Triple Zero and emergency services raced to the scene.

Before officers arrived at the property, the younger man tried to reenter the property when Keith allegedly shot him.

Di and Keith Blessing were wounded in an alleged home invasion at Torrington, NSW. Supplied

McKinnon said the gun used was a long-arm registered to the 75-year-old.

“He certainly did his best obviously under very different circumstances to defend himself and his partner,” he said.

“It was quite impressive that he was able to do that.”

McKinnon said only a single shot was fired.

Trethewey was treated for a gunshot wound to his abdomen at the property and driven to Armidale Hospital under police guard. He is in a serious but stable condition.

He has since been charged with two counts of wounding with intent to murder.

McKinnon said the man, who had spoken briefly to police while in hospital, did not have an “extensive” criminal history.

He said it did not appear anything had been stolen from the property, and he was unsure why the alleged intruder had supposedly tried to reenter the home.

Asked whether Keith Blessing could face charges over shooting the alleged attacker, McKinnon demurred.

“A person is entitled to use reasonable force to defend themselves,” he said.

“But all of these things will form part of our investigation.”

CRE: https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/nsw/family-of-couple-stabbed-in-nsw-home-invasion-deeply-traumatised-20260605-p604c2.html