A father has expressed deep regret over the alleged murder of his eight-year-old son, Brodie Moran, who died at a house at Tootgarook on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula last week.
Lee Moran, who currently lives overseas, broke his silence over the shocking incident in a statement released through Victoria Police.
“Firstly I wish to thank people for all the warmth and heartfelt sympathy they have shown me,” the statement read.
“From old friends, concerned parents to strangers on the other side of the world.”
He added: “Brodie’s passing has touched so many people.”
Mr Moran’s wife, Joanne Finch, has been charged with Brodie’s murder. She appeared before a Melbourne court last week where it was revealed she had been taking antidepressants.
The details of how the young boy was murdered or exactly where he was murdered remain unclear.
“People will always have their own assumptions as to what led up to my beautiful son’s death. But the truth is there is no other story,” he said.
“At no point did I, or anyone around Brodie and Joanne, feel that he was in danger.”
“My deepest regret is that I wasn’t there to prevent his [alleged] murder.”
Brodie Moran, eight, was found dead at a Tootgarook house on the Mornington Peninsula last week.
His mother, Joanne, was arrested at the scene and later charged with one count of murder.
Mr Moran said he and Ms Finch separated in July 2015, but he continued to support his child both financially and emotionally.
“Although Joanne and I had separated in July 2015, I never stopped loving, caring and supporting my son both emotionally and financially. Brodie and I had a weekly FaceTime session together when he would share with great enthusiasm all that he had done that week.”
He described his son as a “very loved, kind, considerate and caring boy,” adding that he lived “a life in his eight short years that many others may not live in a lifetime.”
Mr Moran added that he would always remember Brodie “with happiness of his warm cheeky smile and loving caring nature, and this is a gift he has left us all.”
Our thoughts remain with the family during this unimaginably difficult time.
