Luke Batty stabbed and beaten to death with
cricket bat by father in front of horrified
children and parents The father of the boy was later shot by
police and later died in hospital Luke Batty died at the scene in Melbourne,
Australia, despite paramedics attempting to treat
him for massive head injuries By ROB WILLIAMS Thursday 13 February 2014 Australia has been left shocked by the death of an
11-year-old boy stabbed then beaten to death with
a cricket bat in front of other children and their
parents. Luke Batty died at the scene in Melbourne,
Australia, despite paramedics attempting to treat
him for massive head injuries. The father of the
boy was later shot by police and died in hospital. Horrified parents and children watched as Greg
Batty attacked his son last night during the cricket
club training session at Tyabb, on Victoria’s
Mornington Peninsula. The Australian reported that Greg Batty had led a 'tragic' life with mental health issues. The boy's
British mother, Rosie Batty, told the newspaper that Luke had trusted his father and she believed
he was safe. “It’s just a little cricket practice. There was people
there,’ she told the paper. She also spoke of her
grief at the boy's death and added that both she
and the boy's father loved him very much. "What triggered this was a case of his dad having
mental health issues," Ms Batty told Channel Nine. "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. "No one loved Luke more than his father. No one
loved Luke more than me - we both loved him",
she told the broadcaster. According to reports police attempted to reason
with Mr Batty after his attack on his son, before
discharging pepper spray at him and shooting him
once in the chest. A police officer at the scene told Sky News the boy's injuries were "quite brutal" and described
the scene as "horrific".