Gold Coast principal addresses painful question as school gathers for slain student Sophie Wang
Hundreds gathered to pay tribute to the 10-year-old at Emmanuel College on Friday, where she was enrolled in Year 5.
The principal of the school attended by allegedly murdered Gold Coast girl Sophie Wang said "it's natural" the community might be asking themselves if they could've done more to help. Fronting media on Friday he paid tribute to the "very intelligent and bright" 10-year-old who he said was a great friend to many at the school.
Emmanuel College Principal Dan Brown reassured parents and peers the school "is a safe place" where there are "lots of people available for help", as family and friends gathered to remember Sophie, who was allegedly killed by her own mother in the home the two shared on Tuesday.
Brown said he knew Sophie personally and reflected on her intelligence, remembering the Year 5 student as a "thoughtful girl who loved her academics”.
Principal speaks after 10-year-old's horrific alleged murder
"She was a very bright young lady. She loved reading — she was a great reader," he told media."She was a great friend. She was known as being compassionate and caring. She loved music. Those memories will live on."
Brown said it's "normal" that members of the community, many of whom were seen in tears during the school's memorial on Friday, have asked themselves if they might have been able to do more to prevent the unimaginable tragedy.
"Those questions are really normal in these situations," he said. "They want to know, could I have done more? Could we have helped? That’s a natural and normal response.
"My feelings are complete devastation. As a principal, there’s nothing harder to deal with than the loss of a student, but particularly around the tragic circumstances of this particular loss. I’m human, too. It hits me hard."
Community band together in wake of unthinkable tragedy
Parents, teachers and students alike gathered on Friday morning to honour Sophie's life. In bright textas, pupils left touching messages paying tribute to their friend, "who will never be forgotten".
"RIP, we love you, shine bright! You never deserved this. You will not be forgotten," one tribute read, The Courier Mail reported.
"Fly high sweet angel. We miss you so much but God will take care of you. You will never be forgotten, you are the strongest! Shine bright, brighter than the stars," a second said.
Both parents and children wept as Amazing Grace reverberated throughout the school.
Gruesome murder sends shockwaves around Australia
Shockwaves were sent across Australia this week after Yingying Xu, 46 was charged with the murder of daughter Sophie, who was allegedly killed in their home in Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
It's understood Xu's husband, Griffith University academic Dr Yun Wang, discovered the mutilated body of Sophie just after 6pm. Xu was allegedly found at a nearby residence at 10.25pm later that night, with detectives laying murder charges shortly after.
First responders attending the scene were reportedly left in tears on finding Sophie with her throat slashed, with neighbours reporting hearing Dr Wang's "haunting" screams after he made the chilling discovery. A spokesperson for Gold Coast Police confirmed to Yahoo on Thursday morning detectives have been looking into Xu’s "social media accounts as part of their investigation".
In at least one video the devil is referenced a number of times in a strange and nonsensical rant.
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