Boy charged with schoolyard stabbing murder

MORE than 1000 people have attended a memorial service for a 12-year-old schoolboy who died yesterday after being stabbed in a schoolyard.

Students, parents and friends visited St Patrick's College in northern Brisbane this morning to remember Elliot Fletcher.School board chairman Damian Gallagher said the school community was still coming to terms with what had happened."It's still very raw for us and this is a very special moment for the community," he said.Elliot, who was stabbed in the chest, died just minutes after arriving at hospital. A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder.Nearly 3200 people joined the "RIP Elliot Fletcher" Facebook page which was set up following the shocking incident. "So young. So many opportunities you missed. But you're in a better place now. I'll see you up there mate," wrote Jacob Dare, one of hundreds of heartfelt messages from shocked friends.

But around midnight last night, sick photos began appearing on the page, showing distressing scenes of murder, race-hate, bestiality and callous messages. "Woot. I'm dead," read one message in mock spraypaint over a headshot of the 12-year-old.Another picture showed an African-American child's head on a silver platter, while another was a tasteless ad for a woodchipper. Police have removed the offensive material from the page and have said those responsible will be traced and punished.Elliot's alleged killer was yesterday escorted by police from the school to Redcliffe Hospital for treatment on self-inflicted wounds which were described as "superficial".One student on the site said a number of Year 10 students pushed past him to get a closer look at Elliot after he had been stabbed."You obviously have no sense of right or wrong. A boy's life was lost today and all you could do was make a joke of it," the student wrote.Principal Dr Michael Carroll, who delivered the news of Elliot's death to the students, said it was a "tragic loss of a young life."The first indication that something was wrong at St Patrick's College that morning was Advance Australia Fair blaring over the school speakers.The national anthem doubles as the lockdown signal at the northern Brisbane Catholic boys' school yet the reason for the security measure was one that few could have possibly imagined.

For in the school's main toilets, 12-year-old Elliot Fletcher was fatally stabbed through the chest.
His alleged attacker - a 13-year-old boy described as a straight-A student - had fled the grounds, bleeding from the neck from a self-inflicted wound and allegedly still armed with a knife he had brought to school before the 8.15am attack.

Police found him two blocks away, near a blue trailer where he had allegedly hidden the the long-bladed knife.

As students hid under desks in classrooms, paramedics tried desperately to save Elliott. He was taken to Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital but was declared dead a short time later.
"You can't imagine what it would be like to send your 12-year-old boy to school for him never to return," Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Les Hopkins said.

The alleged offender was escorted by police to Redcliffe Hospital for treatment on his "superficial" wounds.

Police would not comment on any possible motive for the stabbing, but students said the alleged offender had been the victim of bullying and had brought a knife to school to "scare" his tormentors.

Last night, police charged the boy with murder and he will appear in court today.
Just before midday, students were ordered to assembly where principal Michael Carroll delivered the awful news of Elliott's death.

"This has been a tragic loss of a young life," Dr Carroll said.

Parents flocked to the gates of the college - described as "North Brisbane's best-kept secret" on car bumper stickers - to collect their sons, some of whom were visibly distraught.
Dhana Monks said her son was devastated to lose his friend.

"When you send them to school you think they're going to be safe," she said.
"Supt Hopkins said that Elliott's parents were "absolutely distraught". "We are still investigating if there were witnesses."

Within hours of Elliott's death, friends flocked online to a Facebook memorial page where hundreds of comments paid tribute to the budding soccer star

Summary:
'The death of a 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher shocked the community. The boy was stabbed at the chest and died shortly after being sent to hospital. The attacker was caught at 2 blocks away from the incident occured, trying to hid the long bladed knife. Parents after hearing the news, rushed to the school to pick up their children. Motive for stabbing was unknown. A facebook group was setted up by past and present friends of the boy as a tribute to the boy's death. However, the page was hacked with many disturbing photos and unpleasant messages.

Critique:
It saddens me to know that school is no longer a safe place for the children. A young boy life is wasted due to implusive act of another student which was probably motivated by anger. The attacker's life is also ruined as this incident would leave a stain in his life too. Was it worth it to take anyone's life for a fight? And it angers me, to know that while people are mourning for the boy's death, people takes advantage to post sick and racist photos and comments. They should considered other people's feelings.