Mourners To Fill 86 Tram With Red Roses In Memory Of Murdered Student Aiia Mararwe
A Vigil Will also be held
AAP
Mourners will be filling the 86 with flowers in memory of murdered student Aiia Mararwe this evening.
The 21-year-old was found dead in Bundoora on Tuesday morning; it’s believed she was attacked after catching the 86 tram home following a night at The Comic’s Lounge.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend a vigil on the steps of Victorian parliament tonight, before filling the tram with flowers in a moving tribute to the 21-year-old.
“We would like to fill the 86 tram with flowers for Aiia, to take up to Bundoora. There will be an 86 tram leaving the city after the vigil on the steps of Parliament” the Facebook event reads.
The tram is timetables to leave parliament at 8.01pm and those who aren’t able to make it to the city can place flowers on the tram along the way. The flowers will then be places at the scene of her murder.
Prior to this, a silent service will be held on the steps of Victoria's parliament on Friday evening fwith attendees asked to wear black.
"Women's lives are important and they matter and we can't keep watching as women are murdered by men," event organiser and feminist writer Karen Pickering told AAP.
"Aiia Maasarwe was like so many other women and girls - she was out meeting friends, exploring the city, taking in shows - she should've been able to do that safely.
"Aiia's death is part of an epidemic of male violence against women."
Victorian police have made a plea to the public for information surrounding the murder, asking for anyone who may have been in vicinity of Main Drive and Plenty Road between 11pm Tuesday night and 1am Wednesday morning – including anyone driving who may have dashcam footage.
They would also like to speak to anyone who may have been on the 86 tram which travels from the Melbourne CBD to Bundoora.
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