Boy, 13, charged after fatal stabbing

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder over the Brisbane schoolyard stabbing
of a 12-year-old fellow student.

Police allege a 13-year-old boy from the same school, St Patrick's College at
Shorncliffe, stabbed Elliot Fletcher in the chest with a knife in school grounds at
about 8.15am (AEST) on Monday.
Elliot was critically injured and treated by paramedics at the scene before being
taken by ambulance to the Royal Children's Hospital with a senior staff member by
his side, under police escort.
His parents were contacted and immediately went to the hospital to be with him.
But he died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The 13-year-old boy is due to appear in the Brisbane Children's Court on Tuesday.
While police are yet to confirm the name of the victim, more than 5,000 people have
joined several R.I.P Elliot Fletcher Facebook groups, the first of which was set up
at 1pm (AEST) on Monday.
At 6pm (AEST), the website had received hundreds of messages from past and present
students of the college and nearby schools.
"R.I.P Elliot, Pats will never forget you, me and my family's prayers are with you
and your family," wrote Jayson Short.
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.
One female student from a nearby girls' school wrote on the site that she would no
longer go to the St Patrick's school dance next weekend because of the stabbing.
School headmaster Dr Michael Carroll told reporters in a prepared statement it had
been a "tragic loss of young life".
"My immediate concern is the welfare of the families affected and all students and
staff at the college," he said.
"I have informed students and staff of this tragedy and counselling services are
available to all students and staff.
"While I'm unable to discuss the details of how the injury was sustained, I can
confirm that it did involve another student from the college and that other student
is now assisting police with their inquiries."
The 13-year-old student assisting police was found by officers near the school with
a minor wound that required hospital treatment.
No one else was injured during the incident.
Chief Superintendent Les Hopkins told reporters the deceased boy's family was
obviously distraught.
"I can't imagine what it would be like to lose your 12-year-old child, but I can
imagine they are having a very tough time," he said.
The school followed its emergency procedures and went into lockdown but this was
later lifted.
Dr Carroll said the school was co-operating with police.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with all affected by this terrible tragedy,
particularly the parents of the deceased boy," he said.
He declined to take questions from reporters.
The Christian Brothers school has 1,100 students in years five to 12 and has
operated since 1952.
Among its alumni are Wallaby Drew Mitchell and rugby league star Michael Crocker.