Classmates and friends of schoolyard stabbing victim Elliot Fletcher have gathered for a memorial service, as a 13-year-old boy was remanded in custody over his murder.
More than 1,000 students, parents and staff attended a morning mass for the 12-year-old who died after being stabbed in the chest at St Patrick's College at Shorncliffe, Brisbane.
As the priest told grieving pupils they must always remember the value of life, one of their own remained in custody charged with murder.
The 13-year-old, who cannot be named, was remanded after his case was mentioned briefly in the Brisbane Children's Court on Tuesday. The case is due to return to court on April 29.
Parents who attended the mass struggled to understand how a young healthy boy could have met his death in what should have been a haven for learning and fun.
Mother Natalie Smoothy, whose son attends the Catholic college, verbalised what was written on every parent's face.
Pupils 'distressed'
"What's the world coming to is what I want to know," she said. "How did this happen in a little, quiet, beautiful part of the world?
"What's the world coming to is what I want to know," she said. "How did this happen in a little, quiet, beautiful part of the world?
"It's just tragic and it's really going to affect this community. We're going to have to stay strong and solid. That's why we're all here today."
Janine Edwards said her family had endured a very hard night, and she'd spoken at great length to her son, a pupil at the school who'd been very distressed by Elliot's loss.
"It doesn't seem real at the moment," she said at the school.
During the mass, the priest told grieving pupils they must always remember the value of life and make the most of it while it's theirs.
"Everyone was really sombre and quiet in contemplation," said one long-term resident whose children are past students of the school. "The community is thunderstruck.
Stunned silence
"It was fantastic to see everyone in there looking after each other during the mass. This was about people getting together."
For a full five minutes after the mass concluded, the congregation sat in silence, unwilling to move.
"Everyone just sat there for a while," the man said."They're just kids. Everyone just sat there thinking how the bloody hell could this happen."
William Carr, a past student who graduated in 2008, said he believed the slain boy's family attended the morning mass.
He said it was shocking that a child could be killed at any school "let alone such a great school as St Pat's".
He said there was no culture of violence at the school.
Facebook tribute hacked
"In three years, I saw one fight and the people apologised to one another 20 minutes later," he said after the mass finished.
Another former student, Josh Noble, who also left in 2008, said he was sickened by news that violent and pornographic postings had been posted on online tribute pages set up for Elliot.
"Why would someone post that on a memorial site? They're going to get what's coming to them."
Police have removed the offensive content and vowed to trace and prosecute those responsible.
"The stuff that was posted on that site shouldn't have been allowed in the first place," Mr Moble said.
Speculation 'unfair'
Aaron Pederson, an old boy of the school, was among those who arrived at the mass carrying flowers. "It's very tragic," he said.
Meanwhile, the family of the boy accused of Elliot's murder has called for restraint in the reporting of the case.
Spokeswoman for lawyers Robertson O'Gorman, Louisa Pink, read from a statement from the family outside Brisbane Children's Court.
"It is extremely tragic circumstances in which a young boy has died. However, there is also a young boy who is now facing the criminal justice system on a very serious charge.
"Current speculation as to the motives and the circumstances are, frankly, unfair to him and we are just asking that the media exercise restraint and report responsibly on the matter."
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