Statement from Tyler Cassidy's mother      Northcote Leader 15 December 2008

Tyler was my son. He was 15 and his life was taken from him unnecessarily and prematurely. His fate was not destined for the hands of the police.

I cherished my son; people who know me and know their son know the truth. He was a fragile boy, loving and loyal, spirited and adventurous. He was a boy with needs and wants and needed protection, I was his protector, and I failed to provide him that two nights ago.

He was only 5 foot 7 inches, he weighed only 58 kilos and 10 bullets were fired at him. Six entered his body one of which was fatal.

Every night before he would go to bed my son would say ``I love you, mum.'' I will never hear those words from him again. My son lived and breathed me. I was the nurturing mother that would look after him. I was the living parent that gave him guidance.

Tyler's father passed away four years to the month suddenly. It had a huge impact on Tyler as they were inseparable. I have now not only had to bury my husband at a young age, but now I have to bury my youngest child beside him.

My son was a 15-year-old boy growing up, learning his way through life. He was at school and had a part time job. He loved family gatherings and celebrations. He had a great network of friends. He was starting to think about the future, wanted to be an apprentice chef when he finished school. He had a lot of great ideas about his future. He was learning to understand himself better.

He was talkative, loved, opinionated and he would always stand up for himself.

He was a great debater, knowledgeable, social and loving.

Rather than leave us to grieve there are those who have sought to smear my son and my family in some way in an attempt to justify what occurred. Why have they felt the need to spread those stories to the media? Perhaps this shows a consciousness on their part that the police officers should have handled things differently that night.

Accusations that he was involved in a nationalistic group are farfetched. He was a 15 year old boy. His views were still developing. He attended a multi-cultural school.

Many of Tyler's friends have come to my house in tears. They are of all nationalities and we are all grieving.

Something triggered my son to act the way he did on the night he was killed. I do not know why he had a knife, but I can say in the honesty of my heart that my son was not a violent person; he would not of his own accord leave this house to cause harm. Something had fuelled his actions.

On the night my son was killed he came home upset and left home upset. I called the police 30 minutes before the incident occurred and gave them a full description of my son's appearance, his age and in which direction he was heading and I also gave them my contact details to call me if they found him. That did not happen. My son Blake was also out looking for him.

Tyler loved his brother Blake, who is sitting beside me now. He has a great relationship with his brother and looked up to his brother for advice and his guidance.

As a mother giving birth to this child, my baby, this has destroyed me. Tyler was upset, alone and scared. I had faith that the system would protect him from harm. That system has failed.

My darling son, I will give it my best to find the truth and bring answers to your grave. I would never wish any mother to go through what I have been through over the last 48 hours.

In closing, Tyler was a great kid, and I love you very much.