The grieving mother of a young bottle shop worker who was stabbed to death has revealed she was spat at and abused after making the mercy run to bring her son’s body home.
Declan Laverty, 20, was minutes away from finishing his shift at the Airport Tavern BWS self-service bottle shop in Darwin just before 9pm on Sunday when he was stabbed multiple times.
He sent a text to his parents to tell them that he loved them and that he had been stabbed to death before bleeding to death in the arms of a shocked witness at the scene.
As his alleged attacker, 19-year-old Keith Kerinauia, faced court for the first time on Tuesday, Declan’s mother, Samara Laverty, and father, Damien Crook, spoke about their heartbreaking loss.
Lavery rushed to Darwin on Monday to bring her son’s body home to Cairns in far north Queensland, but she has suffered crueler blows.
Lavery says she was stoned and abused and spat at in the supermarket within hours of arriving in Darwin.
Samara Laverty rushed to Darwin following the tragic death of her son Declan (right)
“I can’t wait to get my poor son out of this hell,” Laverty told the NT News.
He remembered his son as an intelligent, loving and talented young man and an enthusiastic AFL player who adored animals and his family.
She had just turned 20 in February and would soon be heading back to Cairns to visit her mother, sister and her pets.
“Her incredible life in which she was just beginning her journey will never be fulfilled,” Ms Laverty said.
‘He will never fall in love. He will never marry. He will never be a dad.
“Her life, her future, our future have been completely stripped away.”
Mr. Laverty was living with his father in Darwin at the time and still has leftovers from his dinner in the fridge.
Crook called the couple the best match and fought back tears as he revealed his plans to buy a house together before his son’s life was tragically cut short.
Everyone is suffering. I mean her mother: everyone is hurting, obviously not just me,” she told the Today show.
Declan Laverty (left) was renting a place in Darwin with his father Damien Crook (right)
The young bottle shop worker was allegedly stabbed to death at The Airport Tavern drive-thru BWS (pictured) moments before closing time Sunday night.
‘We had a brilliant relationship, a father relationship but also a relationship as a couple, you know. We were best friends, you know.
“We were going to buy a little unit together and he loved his music and he said ‘dad, I’m going to take care of you, I’ll buy you a house and I’ll take care of you, as long as you cook for me every day.” evening.’
Her son had been looking for a new job because he could no longer deal with abusive customers.
“This is not the first time,” Crook said.
He has been abused, a screwdriver was taken out of him a month or so ago, along with verbal and physical attacks.
“One of his coworkers can’t even go back to work anymore, he got beat up so hard and that’s just at that store for refusing alcohol.”
Crook received a very different response from the Darwin community compared to Declan’s mother’s ordeal in recent days.
He also acknowledged the support of the Endeavor Group, which operates his son’s workplace.
‘Darwin really has amazing,’ he said.
‘I can’t thank the people of Darwin who have helped enough
“I want a memorial for Declan in Darwin for me, but for all the people who have been here for me and all the people who are suffering as well, we need something here.”
Damien Crook (pictured) fought back tears as he paid tribute to his son on the Today show
Declan Laverty (pictured) had just celebrated his 20th birthday weeks earlier
Keith Kerinauia, 19, was charged Tuesday with one count of murder, one count of aggravated robbery and bail violation.
The Darwin local court heard on Tuesday that Kerinauia was already due to appear in court on April 13 on “an allegation of aggravated assault involving a bladed weapon,” the NT news informed.
Police will allege that the 19-year-old was in a blue 2014 Toyota Camry when he stopped at the Jingili bottle shop just before closing time on Sunday night.
Crown prosecutor Marty Aust called for the case to be relisted with Kerinauia’s other charges.
Kerinauia was taken into custody and no request for bail was filed.
He will face court on May 24.
Friends have gathered around the two parents of Mr. Laverty with online fundraisers established to help with funeral costs.
Declan Laverty (left) was allegedly stabbed while working at a BWS drive-thru in Darwin. He planned to return to Cairns soon to visit his mother Samara (centre) and his sister Bridget (right)
