source : the age
When Aidan Becker stepped off a train and into protection mode for a 14-year-old stranger, he didn’t know that he would sacrifice his life for the schoolboy.
As one family prepares to farewell their slain son, for whom it was second nature to defend, another is pledging to forever carry the bravery of their boy’s saviour in their hearts.
“We are deeply saddened by this heartbreaking loss,” said the family of the 14-year-old who was allegedly threatened at Mernda railway station in Melbourne’s north-east.
“[Becker] showed extraordinary courage and compassion in risking his life to save our son. Our family will carry his bravery and kindness in our hearts forever.
“We hold your family in our thoughts and prayers.”
A friend of the Becker family has set up a fundraiser to crowdsource money for his funeral after the 22-year-old, who worked as a security officer at The Alfred hospital, was allegedly attacked by a group of teens at the station about 5.50pm last Friday.
Becker noticed a 14-year-old boy allegedly being robbed by a group of people after getting off the train. As he led the boy outside, police allege that four teenagers followed the pair and ambushed them – punching, kicking and ultimately fatally stabbing Becker.
In a statement made on the donations page on Tuesday, the Becker family said they were grieving the “devastating tragedy”.
“The Becker family are grieving the unimaginable loss of their son and have asked that their privacy be respected as they come to terms with this devastating tragedy,” the statement said.
“The outpouring of support from the public has been deeply appreciated, and the family are grateful for the kindness and compassion shown during this time.
“The family kindly asks that their wishes be respected and that they are given the privacy and space to grieve.”
A 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds, and an 18-year-old man, Mike Pikos, were charged with murder and armed robbery over Becker’s death.
In the days since Becker’s passing, the community has rallied around his family, donating nearly $70,000 so far. Flowers were also left at Mernda station, and a vigil will be held later this week.
Premier Jacinta Allan said she would organise to meet with the Becker family later on Tuesday to express her deepest sympathies.
“To think he was just there trying to do the right thing makes it even more heartbreaking for his family and loved ones,” Allan said on Tuesday morning.
“My office has reached out to the family of Aidan Becker, and I will be meeting with the family later today. It will be an opportunity for me just to sit and listen … and also express my deepest, deepest sympathy for someone who was a strong young man, a proud member of the local community, who has been killed in the most awful, violent and tragic of circumstances.”
The incident raised questions about whether protective service officers had been directed away from train stations to instead patrol shopping centres.
PSOs have had a nightly presence at train stations since 2010, when the Baillieu government was elected on a promise to put two officers at every station nightly, between 6pm and the final train service.
Late last year, the government announced it would pull nightly patrols from 120 low-crime stations and instead deploy groups of officers to monitor several stations in an area. The government has not yet said which stations would be considered “low crime”.
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