Luke Batty inquest finds murder by father was unforeseeable

Rosie Batty has said she has "a degree of closure" after an inquest found her son's death at the hands of his father could not have been foreseen.

Luke, 11, was bashed with a bat and stabbed to death by his father Greg Anderson at a public cricket ground in Tyabb, outside Melbourne in 2014.

The case forced domestic violence onto the national agenda in Australia.

Coroner Ian Gray found Anderson was "solely responsible" for Luke's death and did not blame authorities.

"No-one person or agency could have reasonably been expected to foresee that Mr Anderson would be that rare perpetrator and Luke that rare victim of a violent filicide," he said.

"I find that there is no validated risk-assessment tool that can accurately predict whether a parent is likely to commit filicide."

The coroner spoke of several missed opportunities to engage Anderson in the mental health system.

Anderson was shot by police after threatening them with a knife when they tried to detain him. He died later in hospital.

The inquest examined what could have been done by police and child protection authorities to prevent Luke's death.

At the time of Luke's death, there were four warrants out for Greg Anderson's arrest, and he was facing 11 charges, mostly related to violence and threats towards Luke's mother, Rosie Batty.

Child protection officers had closed a file on Luke despite his father once showing him a knife and saying "this could be the one to end it all".

The coroner heard Anderson may have suffered from a delusional disorder and was capable of switching "between rational and irrational behaviours and presentations".

Mr Gray said Luke loved his father and was not afraid of Anderson, but learnt to manage the relationship carefully.

He said Luke Batty and his mother, Rosie, had suffered years of family violence.

He found the incident to be a "tragic death of a young life full of promise".

Ms Batty was praised as a loving and thoughtful mother who was "completely motivated by her deep love for her son".

Speaking to reporters after the findings were handed down on Monday, Australian of the Year Ms Batty said it was the outcome she had been looking for.

"It's a monumental day. It's kind of I guess a degree of closure but really a great degree of hope. [The Coroner has] done what I always set out to do... to highlight systemic failings.

"Right now, as Judge Gray said to me personally, 'Luke has not died in vain'.

"The biggest change we need to see is how we effectively intervene with perpetrators and work to stop the violence."

Last week, Ms Batty joined Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to announce a A$100m ($70m; £46m) domestic violence prevention package.

"It is my dream that Australia will in the future be known for respecting women," Mr Turnbull told reporters last Thursday.

"All violence against women begins with disrespecting women."

Australians needing support or advice about family violence can call 1800 737 732