Mother of slain schoolboy, 17, who was allegedly stabbed to death at a basketball game says he dreamed of becoming an engineer to provide for their family so she wouldn’t have to work more than one job again
- Bless Mulukwat Akoch was allegedly stabbed to death at a basketball game
- 17-year-old was rushed to hospital in critical condition but could not be saved
- Mother Susan Akoch has revealed her heartbreak over losing her ‘beautiful boy’
- A 15-year-old boy charged with one count of murder and remanded in custody
The heartbroken mother of a teenager who was allegedly stabbed to death at a youth basketball game has revealed her son hoped to become an engineer to look after his family as she paid tribute to her ‘beautiful boy’.
Bless Mulukwat Akoch was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but was unable to be saved after the alleged stabbing at the Eagle Stadium in Werribee, in Melbourne’s southwest, just before 6pm on May 7.
The 17-year-old’s mother Susan Akoch said her family will ‘feel the sorrow in our hearts forever’ following her son’s death, the Herald Sun reported.
Ms Akoch described Bless as a talented pianist and ice skater who loved to play basketball and was fluent in French and Arabic.
Bless Mulukwat Akoch was allegedly stabbed to death just before 6pm on May 7 at a basketball game in Melbourne’s southwest
She said he ‘had a dream to be an engineer’ but ‘our dreams were lost with his’.
‘Bless was our beautiful boy. His hope was that he could look after his mother and I would never again have to work two or three jobs at a time,’ Ms Akoch said.
A 15-year-old boy believed to have been known to Bless has been charged with one count of murder. He has been remanded in custody until September 23.
Fiona McAuliffe, the school principal of Good News Lutheran College in Tarneit, where Bless was a Year 12 pupil, said he was ‘was a very gifted student’ who ‘gave everything to the things he was passionate about it’.
‘He had his challenges but he was making an effort to make the best of the opportunities that were provided to him,’ Ms McAuliffe said.
Students held a memorial ceremony last week where they paid tribute to Bless.
Bless’ mother Susan Akoch said her 17-year-old son hope to become an engineer but heartbreakingly revealed ‘our dreams were lost with his’
The school is offering students and their family members support through their Pastoral Care team, with Bless’ funeral to be held on Saturday.
Friends of Bless said he was ‘joking around’ just hours before the alleged stabbing attack.
A mate described Bless as a ‘good soul’ who was ‘destined for greatness’, and said she and her friends were heartbroken by the news.
‘He never failed to make others laugh, brightening each room with his smile. He never backed down from a challenge and always took them head on,’ she said.
One friend, Epz Solomona, farewelled Bless in a heartfelt Instagram post.
‘Since the beginning you embraced me. You taught me everything, the good, the bad, the ugly. Before I signed any contract ever in my life, I signed myself to you, the streets and I promise too represent you forever,’ he wrote.
Bless was allegedly stabbed at a youth basketball game at the Eagle Stadium in Werribee (pictured), in Melbourne’s southwest