Mother of dead student waits for answers on 'love triangle'

Michael Treffers' mother Donna wants to know why he died. Photo / Supplied

A student from one of Auckland's top schools who fell to his death may have been involved in a love triangle with male and female friends, his mother says.

Donna Treffers believes her son Michael, 15, was struggling with his feelings for the pair when he fell from a bridge over the Southern Motorway last May.

Facebook messages sent to the King's College boarder after his death by the male friend point to the nature of their relationship.

The friend, who the Herald on Sunday has chosen not to name, wrote: "u told me u loved me as a brother as a frend and u had feelings on a higher basis (sic).

"we were onli best freinds, i had built up feelings for you and u apaently felt the same for me i dont know if (another friend) is right and if you only told me what i wanted to hear. i realli tried to be your everything michael (sic)."

Donna said Michael was also "in love" with a girl and spent almost all of his free time with the pair. She said she wouldn't have been concerned if Michael was gay and wanted to talk to the male friend.

"I have questions to ask him and I feel as Michael's mother I deserve some explanation. I would like to know what the essence of the whole relationship was."

She had told Michael he was 15, had "raging" hormones and it was "absolutely normal to question his sexuality".

Michael was the third student from the private school in Otahuhu to die in four months last year.

He knew William Thode, who died of a heart infection in February, and James Webster, who overdosed on alcohol in May.

King's College headmaster Bradley Fenner said he couldn't comment on the boys' sexuality but in general terms young people struggled with hormonal changes.

"That is an issue for some teenagers and I am sure every school has students who are grappling with these sorts of things.

"We would certainly see our role, particularly through our counselling staff and chaplains, to help them work their way through those kinds of issues to make the pathway as easy as it can be."

Donna was also upset no date had been set for the coroner's inquest into Michael's death. She couldn't move on until she knew what happened.

"My son is dead and no one has come to tell me what was going on."

Police inquest officer John Potts said he would deliver his report to the coroner in the next few weeks, and it would be up to the coroner to decide when the hearing would be held.

Donna has previously spoken out about how Michael had been consumed with texting and Facebook messages between the three friends.

She revealed Michael sent a message to the male friend just before his death which suggested he was in a troubled state.

The friend texted back, showing concern for his wellbeing.