A Melbourne boy acted bravely and protectively when he shot and killed a man who was beating his mother, a coroner says.
The boy picked up a gun that Ayhan Paul Ferman dropped as he threw the boy's mother through a sliding door, and fired a shot into Mr Ferman's chest.
State Coroner Ian Gray said the 12-year-old, who cannot be named, was defending his mother and commended his actions.
"(He) is entitled to be told that the court recognises that his action, in the heat of the moment, was quick thinking, brave and legally justified," Mr Gray said on Wednesday.
"His mother was clearly the subject of a serious assault by Mr Ferman before (he) shot at him."