Cairns mum charged amid mourning
A 37-year-old mother has appeared before the Cairns Magistrate's Court charged with the murder of eight children.
Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, mother of seven of the dead children, has been remanded in custody after appearing before the Cairns Magistrates Court charged with eight counts of murder.
Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday appeared before Magistrate Alan Comans at a bedside hearing at the Cairns Base Hospital.
"The matter will next be heard in the Cairns Magistrates Court tomorrow along with other Arrest Court matters from 9.30am.
Ms Thaiday, also known as Mersane Warria, has been excused from attending the hearing.
"Given the matter is now before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment further," a spokesman for Queensland Police said.
A few doors down from the house where eight children were found murdered on Friday, people in the Cairns community of Manoora gathered today to mourn their deaths.
Religious leaders from various faiths came to the Murray Street community centre to speak at this morning’s service of tributes, music and singing.
Ms Thaiday now faces eight murder charges over the deaths of seven of her children and her niece, who are not being named for cultural reasons.
Next door to where the murders allegedly took place, a makeshift shrine of hundreds of bouquets, toys, cards and paintings is growing.
Today a church group held their service in the park , where the shrine lies under a large tree, singing and praying for the lives lost.
A community memorial to the eight children who died on Friday. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian
Tributes left at the base of a spreading Morton Bay Fig tree in a park next to the house where eight children were stabbed to death in Murray Street, Manoora, on Friday. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian
Ben Mitchell, Cairns president of the Church of Latter Day Saints, told a quiet and sombre gathering at the community centre that everyone was wondering why the tragedy had happened.
“This morning, we come together to try and find some peace, comfort and even hope in how to get through this trying time,” he said.
“Our prayers go out to the families that they may find peace, comfort and understanding.”
But he urged people to try and be positive about their community despite the murders.
“The youth of our community need their hope. We need to share the good stories. The hope brings love to our people and community,” he said.
As the children’s deaths were mourned in services all over Cairns today, a steady stream of people visited the park next to the crime scene, where forensic officers continue their investigation to leave tributes.
A woman cries during a church service to remember eight children who were killed in the Cairns suburb of Manoora, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Picture: AP Photo/Dan Peled, Pool
