Aiia Maasarwe: Police arrest man over killing of Israeli exchange student in Melbourne

'Every woman in Australia - every person in Australia - should be able to travel home in safety. I can't begin to think of what I could say to her family'

Adam Withnall
Friday 18 January 2019 16:30 GMT
Comments
Father of murdered Israeli exchange student Aiia Maasarwe speaks to press

A man has been arrested over the death of an Israeli exchange student who was raped and killed while walking home at night in Melbourne.

Aiia Maasarwe was on the phone to her sister when she was attacked, shortly after getting off a tram on her way back from a comedy night on Tuesday. Her body was later found near La Trobe University in the city's north.

Police said a 20-year-old was taken into custody on Friday morning in the neighbouring suburb of Greensborough. They did not say whether any charges have been filed.

The 21-year-old victim was studying at La Trobe as an exchange student from Shanghai University in China.

Police have not detailed the attack on Ms Maasarwe, which they assume was random and opportunistic.

A 20-year-old man sits in a police car after he was arrested for questioning over the death of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed that she had been raped before her body was found behind a hedge not far from the tram stop.

"I just want to begin by saying how devastated I am by the despicable, tragic and violent killing and rape of Aiia Maasarwe," Mr Morrison told reporters in Fiji.

"Every woman in Australia - every person in Australia - should be able to travel home in safety. I can't begin to think of what I could say to her family," he added.

Her uncle, Abed Kittani, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that Ms Maasarve was speaking by phone to a younger sister when she was attacked.

"She heard the cars passing by and she was helpless, she couldn't do anything," Mr Kittani said of the sister. The sister sent messages, but there was no response.

"Instead of coming home with a diploma, she is coming back in a coffin," Mr Kittani said.

Another uncle, Rame Maasarwe, said: "We cannot believe that something like this happened in Australia, we think it's very safe there."

On Friday, her father Saeed Maasarve stopped by a floral memorial to his daughter at La Trobe University. He travelled to Melbourne to bring her body home.

The Melbourne community organised a vigil outside Victoria state parliament. A tram carrying only flowers will depart from there following the route of her final journey later on Friday.

"Tonight, on the steps of parliament, Victorians will gather to remember Aiia Maasarwe. Positive. Fun. 'The kindest girl.' A 21-year-old just making her way in the world, with her whole life ahead of her. A student on her way home after a comedy show with friends," Victorian premier Daniel Andrews tweeted.

Additional reporting by AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in