Balin Stewart’s dad relives horror, year after alleged fatal stabbing

Michael Stewart lives a horror movie each night, reliving his desperate efforts to save the life of his son, Balin, as he bled out on the front lawn of their family home. Recent Queensland stabbing deaths have only deepened his pain.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart are preparing for Walk for Balin on Friday, January 20, to mark a year since their son’s death. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The last thought Michael Stewart has every night is a horror movie on repeat in his mind as he relives trying to resuscitate his son, Balin, as he bleeds out on the front lawn of their family home.

Friday, January 20, marks a year to the day that Balin Stewart, 16, died after an alleged stabbing outside his Iluka Ave home.

In the 12 months since that fateful night which shook the Sunshine Coast community, somehow, more lives have been lost to senseless knife violence.

“Definitely disillusionment and bewilderment that it continues to happen with no real new policy,” Mr Stewart said, when asked what his emotions were about the current situation.

“What happened to accountability?”

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Among the bloodshed were high-profile cases including an alleged fatal stabbing at the Fortitude Valley train station in July and the heart-wrenching death of North Lakes mum Emma Lovell, who died from stab wounds after an alleged home invasion on Boxing Day.

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart at the memorial tree planted for their son Balin. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Two boys aged 17 have been charged with murder over the death of Mrs Lovell.

For Mr Stewart, his wife Kerri-Lyn, and their family and friends, they await the outcome of the court case of a 17-year-old boy charged with murder over Balin’s death, with his case due to return to Children’s Court in the coming months.

Mr Stewart said he was flabbergasted that knife violence only appeared to be getting worse, despite the devastation being inflicted upon families.

Balin Stewart, 16, who was allegedly stabbed to death outside his Buddina home on January 20. Picture: Supplied

He was scathing of the current youth justice system and urged politicians on all sides to take action.

“It’s more about protecting the perpetrator than the actual society,” he said.

“Surely this whole ‘protect kids in the juvenile system’ mentality has got to be overturned.

“I’m bamboozled at how we continue to go down the same path. If it’s not working surely we’ve got to change something.”

Mr Stewart urged the state government to take firm action against recidivist offenders and get serious about early intervention for first-time juvenile criminals, or risk more heartache hitting families like his.

“Unfortunately it is a living nightmare 24/7,” he said.

“The first thing you think about when you wake up is the loss of your child. Trying to resuscitate Balin is the last thing I think about every night.

“It is a lifelong sentence of an emotional rollercoaster that has more downs than ups unfortunately.”

Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart’s memories of their son displayed at home. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The Stewart family, through their Balin Stewart Foundation, have been working to educate schoolchildren about the dangers of knife violence since their son’s death.

Meanwhile calls have ramped up for the state government to amend its bail laws for home invaders in the wake of Mrs Lovell’s death with a petition launched amassing tens of thousands of signatures in support of stricter bail strategies.

The Stewart family and supporters will gather on Friday afternoon for the Walk for Balin at 2pm at Kawana Surf Club, to honour the life of the popular teen one year on from his untimely death.