Father Batters Son To Death With Cricket Bat

The boy’s British mother is believed to have been at the cricket ground at the time, in Melbourne, Australia.

Luke Batty was at a cricket training session when he was attacked

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

An 11-year-old boy has been killed by his father infront of horrified children and parents at the end of a cricket training session in Melbourne, Australia.

Luke Batty died at the scene despite paramedics attempting to treat him for head injuries caused by a cricket bat.

His 54-year-old estranged father was shot by police officers and died later in hospital.

The boy’s mother, Rosie Batty, who is originally from England, is believed to have been at the cricket ground at the time, in the Melbourne suburb of Tyabb.

Police say the man confronted officers with a knife when they arrived at the ground in the early evening on Wednesday.

Luke's mother Rosie Batty, who is originally from England

Regional police commander Doug Fryer said four police officers attempted to talk the man down and discharged pepper spray before shooting him once in the chest.

Commander Fryer said the boy's injuries were "quite brutal".

"We've had an absolute tragedy here tonight," he said. "It's an horrific scene."

Young children are among the witnesses with whom police are speaking.

"My officers were confronted by a man with a knife," Commander Fryer said.

"They've attempted to talk him down. Any attempt to talk him down was unsuccessful and they've discharged a firearm, hitting him once in the chest. It's obviously shattering."

He would not say if the man was known to police.

"It's something that thankfully we don't see too often but still far too often," Commander Fryer continued, adding: "I don't know how a parent gets through losing a young boy in these sorts of circumstances."

Emergency services at the scene in Melbourne

Wayne Carter, the boy's former cub leader, told local radio that Luke was an enthusiastic cub who would be sorely missed.

"He was an individual. He had his own way of doing things but he was outgoing. He would give anything a try even if it didn't quite work the first time," Mr Carter told Fairfax Radio.

"He embraced everything he did with gusto."

A woman who knew the boy, Gill Metzen, told The Age newspaper,

"He's only a young little thing but he had a good personality, he was a good kid and Rosie (his mother) would do anything for him, it was just beautiful."

Local media reported the father was subject to a restraining order, keeping him away from the family home, but the order did not include the local cricket ground.