SCHOOLCHILDREN cried and hugged each other today as they left flowers and teddy bears at the Perth shopping centre where eight-year-old Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia-Shu was murdered.
Hundreds of schoolmates of the dead girl's brother were driven by bus to the Livingston Marketplace for today's touching memorial.
Children laid single flowers at the shopping centre entrance and some cried as they gathered in a circle to say a prayer for the little girl, described by parish priest Bryan Rosling as a gorgeous, quiet and affectionate child.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with murdering Sofia, found dead by her 14-year-old brother on Monday on the floor of a disabled toilet at the shopping centre at Canning Vale.
Flowers and other tributes were also left near the toilet where her body was found.
Today's flower laying was arranged by Carey Baptist College, attended by Sofia's brother Gabriel, as a show of support for the girl's family.
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School principal Des Mitchell said Sofia's brother would not attend because he was too upset, but classmates and friends were among the 600 children who travelled to the centre today,
Mr Mitchell said Sofia's death had been felt across Australia.
"We had a call from a small school from Beaconsfield in Tasmania. They wanted to let us know that they are with us today," he said. "What you see today is that our community cannot be intimidated with fear and uncertainty.
"Australia's young people have shown us a way forward ... love conquers all."
After the first group of students left on buses, weeping members of the community also laid flowers and left gifts.
One small teddy bear had a note attached which read: "I am sorry. The man was naughty. I'm giving you this teddy. Her name is Kissy. She will look after you. I wish I could be your friend. Love Emily".
Talia Dornsfield and Yarelis Sanz, both 15, from Canning Vale, said they did not go to the same school as anyone from Sofia's family but her loss had hit all students hard.
"We just can't stop talking about her, it is just wrong," Ms Sanz said.
Brian Atkins, 60, who lost both his legs in an accident in 1972, said he came because he was a parent with a five-year-old son, and the death had affected him deeply.
"When you have got kids it really brings home how valuable a person's life is," Mr Atkins said. "I feel so angry that someone would do that to another person."
Sofia's funeral service will take place at the Mater Christie Primary School chapel on Monday, followed by a burial at Fremantle Cemetery.
I think that this is the most disgusting thing that I have ever heard. Sometimes, I wonder what kind of people we all are. Do we all have this capability somewhere deep inside of ourselves? This kind of story makes me want to cry. And yes, it is sad, because this kind of thing happens all the time, especially in my major city, near to where I live. I hear all the time about young children dying as a result of an adult's action. There are always news stories about young children dying in drive-by shootings, and parents going on crazed rampages, one such instance being a doctor dropping his two young children out of a fourth-floor balcony when they were on vacation.
