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The mother of a teenage boy who was stabbed to death after tagging a fence says she did not support what her 15-year-old son was doing that night - but his actions did not justify being killed.
Speaking exclusively to the Herald, Leanne Cameron said she was against graffiti and had signed a petition in the past to make parents more accountable for their children's actions.
Her son, Pihema Cameron, was fatally stabbed after tagging a fence in Manurewa last month.
"No one should take the law into their own hands, no matter what. It's not their place. That's why there is an 0800 graffiti number."
Ms Cameron said her son had come from a loving, caring family but had stopped attending high school late last year - against his separated parents' wishes - because he "hated it".
As a child, Pihema had been brought up knowing tagging was wrong but, like many teenagers, had found himself in minor trouble.
About a year ago he was caught - by his parents - tagging a table.
"It was just a peer thing. Every teenager does it.
"We were totally against it ... I gave him a bucket of water and a cloth - no Jif - and made him scrub it off."
Ms Cameron said she had signed a petition about two years ago that supported more parental responsibility through a scheme in which parents would also have to remove graffiti with their children if the teens were caught tagging.
But despite his parents' stance, Pihema was caught tagging just over a week ago, and paid for his actions with his life.
Ms Cameron broke her silence following public debate and hurtful comments from Christchurch City councillor Barry Corbett, who implied that the man charged with Pihema's murder should be set free. He said: "If I was on the jury, I'd let him get away with it, but that's just me."
Ms Cameron is calling for Mr Corbett's resignation. "There was no excuse for it [the comment]. You are in a high-up place, in the public view. You shouldn't be saying that."
Mr Corbett told the Herald last night that he made the "off the cuff" comment at a meeting. While he "certainly regretted" saying it, he did not want to comment further.
Ms Cameron said Pihema was family-oriented and liked working on cars. He played in the ripper tag touch competition for a team called the Strickly Green Tag Team.
Ms Cameron, who moved to Australia last year, with her children joining her later, said her son had been living with his father Pihama Edmonds, who is a tetraplegic.
"He was his dad's hands and legs. He helped his father heaps. That's the hardest part now - who's going to be there for his dad?"
The teen had gone to Papakura High School until last year, but hadn't re-enrolled, despite his parents' best efforts. The plan was for him to join Ms Cameron in Australia this year, to work part-time while doing a course.
* Bruce William Emery, 50, has been charged with murder.
