Murdered Adelaide mum had been charged with assault after "beating her son with a broom."

Adelaide mother, Adeline Rigney-Wilson who was murdered along with her two children in an horrific domestic violence assault – allegedly by her partner – was due to face court herself after she had been charged with the assault of her son.

It is alleged she even tried to drown her child.

The bodies of Adeline Rigney-Wilson, 29, her daughter Amber, 6 and son Korey, 5 were found in a home in the rural suburb of Hillier on Monday.

Her partner, Steven Graham Peet, 30, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, and did not apply for bail at a brief court hearing on Tuesday.

The couple had only been living together for a few months and were described by neighbours as quiet.

Amber, 6 and son Korey, 5 via Nine News.

But Nine News reports of a shocking history with reports that Ms Rigney-Wilson had been charged with the assault of one of her children, and was due to face court this month.

She had allegedly beaten the boy, whose age is unknown, with a broom and tried to drown him almost two years ago.

Families SA had been involved with the Rigney-Wilson family for years and had contact with the family on the day of their death.

Why they allowed other children to remain in her care and what they knew of her apparent drug use is now the subject of scrutiny.

Adeline Rigney-Wilson was murdered on Monday. Via Facebook.

Her mother, Donna Rigney told Nine News that Ms Rigney-Wilson was a "good mother" despite her drug use.

"She growled, but it doesn't matter because you've got to pull your kids into line and that's how she did it," she said.

"She got mixed up with the wrong crowd but she always made sure her children were right.

"She always bought food for those kids on her payday."

Her family have defended her. Via Facebook.

However her comments come after she revealed she had not spoken with her daughter for about four months due to the 29-year-old's drug issue.

In contrast to the picture painted of the 29-year-old as a devoted mother Seven News has different claims. In a report aired last night the network detailed Ms Rigney-Wilson's methamphetamine habit and revealed that she rarely kept food in her home to feed her children, saying she placed her ice habit above their needs.

Seven News claim they have sighted documents from Families SA saying the children grew up in “horrific living conditions” and that their mother “was a daily ice user”.

Seven News say that Families SA did not investigate “several serious reports about the children’s safety” due to staff shortages.

Her sister, Terersa Campbell reacted to the claims saying on social media they were false “My sister was not on ice” she wrote while posting the Seven News report.

The children appear to have been happy and popular at the school they attended. Today the friends of Amber and Korey, devastated by the events will stop and remember them.

Evanston Gardens Primary School where Amber was in year one and Korey was in reception (the first year at school in SA) will hold a memorial for the two children.

"They were absolutely delightful, beautiful children. Really fantastic kids," the department's Gawler director Kathryn Bruggemann told Nine News.

"There's certainly shock and disbelief and even for families that might not have known the mum and children there's this sense of 'how could this happen?'" she said.

Family, friends and comunnties have taken to social media to mourne the loss of Ms Rigney-Wilson, who, some say suffered a difficult upbringing.

Earlier this week Chief Inspector Alby Quinn said police were not looking for anyone else in relation to the murders.

"This does appear to be domestic-related and we are not looking for any other further persons in relation to this incident," he said.

Steven Peet made no application for bail when he was brought into the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in August by video link.

For domestic violence support 24/7, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).