Donations to Leon’s family refunded
Nearly $5000 donated by the public to help pay for the funeral costs of 5-year-old Leon Jayet-Cole has been refunded by fundraising website Givealittle.
An investigation by the organisation failed to find a suitable person to give the money to. It also found that ACC had covered the costs of the child’s funeral.
On May 27, shortly after Leon arrived home from Northcote School in Papanui, Christchurch, he was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious head injuries. He died in the following days.
James Roberts, 34, was charged with his stepson’s murder.
Emma Roberts was charged with failing to get her son medical treatment on the day he suffered the fatal injury.
After Leon’s death, a Givealittle page was set up by a family member to help pay for Leon’s funeral and support the family ‘‘during this very sad time’’.
A total of $4629 was donated by 82 people.
The money was never given to Leon’s family and an online petition was launched on Monday calling for Givealittle to release the funds.
‘‘It seems now that the Givealittle organisation are refusing to release the funds to the family for reasons undisclosed to them by Givealittle,’’ organiser Tania Wright said.
‘‘The money was donated by the people for Leon’s family. This money is not for Givealittle to withhold.’’
The petition said the family had requested that the donations be refunded if they were not going to be released to them.
Yesterday, Givealittle emailed people who had donated money to Leon’s family and said that they would be refunded ‘‘immediately’’.
‘‘. . . we have been unable to determine a satisfactory beneficiary and payee for funds raised, and also hold information that ACC have covered the costs of Leon’s funeral (the primary purpose of the page),’’ the email says.
A donor, who wished to remain anonymous, said she supported the decision. ‘‘My heart weeps for this poor little boy and his siblings but I no longer feel comfortable with contributing towards this, especially given the funeral costs have been met by ACC.
‘‘There is too much uncertainty for me around who would benefit from the generosity of so many,’’ she said.
ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said that when some died, no matter the circumstances, their family could apply for a grant of up to $5930 to help cover funeral costs.
Where loss of life occurred as a result of a crime the Ministry of Justice could also contribute toward funeral costs, Melville said.
My heart weeps for this poor little boy and his siblings but I no longer feel comfortable with contributing towards this . . . There is too much uncertainty for me around who would benefit.
Anonymous donor