What would cause a father to stab his 11-year-old son to death during a local junior cricket training?
That’s the question police and community members in south eastern Victoria are asking today after that exact scenario played out at a regional sports oval at around 6:30pm yesterday.
The boy has now been identified as Luke Batty. Luke was reportedly in grade six at Flinders Christian College.
Luke’s mother Rosie has now spoken to the media. In doing so, she expressed her absolute disbelief at what had happened to her son. She said that Luke’s dad Greg suffered from mental health issues and that he had been homeless for a number of years.
Rosie, who was at the cricket practice, said she initially thought Luke had been injured accidentally.
“What triggered this was a case of his dad having mental health issues, he was in a homelessness situation for many years, his life was failing, everything was becoming worse in his life and Luke was the only bright light in his life,” she said.
“No one loved Luke more than Greg, his father. No one loved Luke more than me — we both loved him.”
“And what I want to share with you is, I’m the victim of family violence and if anything comes out of this, in want it to be a lesson to everybody.
“The only two people who love their son more than anyone, is their mother and father. And the very tragic thing about this is the father’s life was tragic and based on … challenges in his life that we couldn’t help him with and nor could anyone else.
Rosie said it was just a normal cricket practice and that Luke had asked to stay for a while longer to spend time with his dad. She said she had no reason to be concerned and that the intervention order – that had been taken out against Greg – allowed him to be there.
“Police have suggested it was a calculated act that would have occurred at some point and i’m not to blame myself,” she told the media.
“It’s a tragic situation that no one could see was going to happen,” she said.
“I’m still dealing with disbelief.
“I want to tell everybody that family violence happens to everybody, no matter how nice your house is, how intelligent you are, it happens to anyone and everyone. This has been an 11-year battle.”
Mamamia previously reported:
Police and ambulance officers were called to the oval on Frankston-Flinders Road in Tyabb amid reports that a young boy had sustained head injuries and needed urgent help.
When they arrived they found a 54-year-old man holding a knife. After unsuccessful attempts to subdue the man with capsicum spray, police shot him once in the chest.
The 11-year-old boy was attended to by paramedics but died at the scene. The boy’s father was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, but reportedly died at around 1:30am today.
Commander Doug Fryer told the media that the boy’s injuries were “brutal” and that his mother had been advised of the events. There have been some reports that the mother was at the oval when it happened but these remain unconfirmed.
“The mother has been advised, she was in the vicinity at the time but I can’t go into the details of what she saw,” Commander Doug Fryer said. “The death of a young child is always going to be horrific and I don’t know how the mother’s going to cope, she probably never will be able to.”
The homicide squad is now investigating.
Police are urging anyone with information on the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Top Comments
I've read some comments saying 'well done to the mother for speaking to the media' ' how brave she was' ' how she didn't do anything wrong....'. I don't share those views. That little boy is dead, no one deserves praise of any sort, it's the most tragic of outcomes. There were so many warnings along the way, so many people let little Luke down, and his mother telling him that his father loves him only disarmed him enough to trust a man he should never have trusted. It's the most tragic case of failure after failure which led to his death on a cricket field, even after Luke asked his mother "could I have a few more minutes with my Dad?" At that moment he trusted both parents to protect him. Women (and men in such circumstances) should be diligent at all times and employ tough love. It is not to say, 'he's his father so he has the right' but to ask 'is he trustworthy and has shown over time he can be trusted with my child?' All the signs pointed to the fact that this man was derailed and had little to look forward to. This is a very bad combination. Women need to stop seeing what their heart needs in order to protect their child, stop excusing behaviours, stop focusing on 'but he is his father', and start observing diligently, keeping a diary, listening to their instincts and seeking all the resources and support they need to rebuild their self esteem and their sense of safety in their family home and back into their lives. Whether the estranged parent is a father or mother - trust is earnt over time, it's not just given to you because you have the title. This man was so abusive to so many, and clearly ramped up his abuse in the months leading up to the murder of his own son, that it is a failure beyond words that he was allowed to have any physical access at all to Luke.
God Bless you little Luke. May your angels protect you now.
The Chief Commissioner has said on radio that there were five warrants out for the arrest of that man when police were called to see him in January. The police calling on him didn't know about the warrants. If police cars have registration plate reading equipment which can instantly tell if the cars registration is paid, if the driver has a license or if his or her license has been suspended. How come other police driving police cars can's key in the name of an individual who they will have to approach to check his status? Police command needs a huge wake up call here. Lives are at risk.
Colin I have made several posts on this tragic matter that you may wish to read. Now Im going to ask you to forgive my cynicism for one moment because I'm not being disrespectful to Luke. I'm going to answer your question with one word. Revenue. Registration plate reading equipment brings in money. Alerting police officers about the potential problems they may encounter or the warrants a person may have outstanding to not generate one cent to consolidated revenue. In fact they may cost money as the officers (as they would have in this case) would potentially arrest and incarcerate someone. The Commissioner Ken Lay has admitted that the police I.T. system is totally out of date. That's going to require an investment of cash to bring it up to date. So don't hold your breath waiting for it.