Boy of 11 beaten and stabbed to death by dad at cricket training in front of horrified friends

Luke Batty is believed to have been struck across the head before being knifed by his father Greg, who was shot by police after threatening paramedics with a knife


An eleven-year-old boy was beaten and stabbed to death by his dad in front of his mum and horrified parents and children at the end of cricket practice.

Luke Batty is believed to have been struck on the head before being knifed.

The youngster died at the scene of the attack in the Melbourne suburb of Tyabb.

A 54 year-old man,  believed to be Luke's father Greg, was shot by police and later died in hospital.

Police told the Australian Associated Press that Mr Batty threatened paramedics with a knife and started screaming "shoot me" when officers arrived at the scene.

He was sprayed with capsicum foam, which had no effect. He then rushed at one officer with a knife and was shot once in the chest.

The father is then believed to have fought with medical staff as they tried to take him to hospital, where he later died.

Police Commander Doug Fryer confirmed the man who was shot was Luke's father, and said they were dealing with an "absolute tragedy".

Luke's mother Rosie Batty, who is originally from England, was at the cricket ground when her son was killed.

She told reporters in Australia that Luke, who was a keen footballer as well as a cricket player, had begged for a few more minutes with his father who he rarely saw at the end of the training session.

"What triggered this was a case of his dad having mental health issues," Ms Batty told Channel Nine.



Later, in an interview outside her home, she told the Herald Sun she was in "shock, disbelief", but was being supported by family and friends, and her family were on their way over to Australia from England.

She said: "What I want to share with you is: I'm the victim of family violence, and if anything come out of this, I want it to be a lesson to everybody.

"Luke was at cricket practice and I believed he was safe."

"I don't think anyone really understood or understands what someone is able to do. And so, as a sane person, or as a caring parent, you trust the very person who killed him, loved him, and they did love him, they loved him more than anyone else."

She told how she had initially believed Luke had been accidentally injured in a "bowling accident" by his father, and it was only later she was told by police and paramedics that he had been deliberately injured.

She went on to say it was a "tragic situation that no one could see was going to happen".

Friends, family and people who did not know Luke but have been touched by yesterday's events have been paying tribute to the schoolboy online, and flowers have been laid at the cricket ground where he died.

The Australian cricket team will wear black armbands for its Test match against South Africa tonight it memory of the young player, with Cricket Australia saying his death was being felt by the whole sport.

The tragic news was broken to Luke's classmates at Flinders Christian Community College this morning, and the school's flag is today flying at half mast.

Head teacher Jill Healey told media there had been "lots of tears", and counsellors were on hand to help pupils struggling to cope with Luke's death.

His friends are said to be planning a vigil in his memory at the cricket ground.


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