A 20-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the horrific murder of Israeli student, Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne.
Cody Herrmann was arrested on Friday 18 January at a park in Greensborough, Melbourne after Ms Maasarwe’s half-naked body was found dumped near a shopping centre.
Ms Maasarwe was an Arab-Israeli exchange student who had come to Melbourne to study at La Trobe University as part of a study abroad program.
She was found dead early on Wednesday morning, behind a hedge near the entrance to the Polaris shopping centre in Bundoora, in Melbourne’s north.
The 21-year-old student was on her way home from a night out at a comedy club when police believe she was attacked. According to reports, Ms Maasarwe had been FaceTiming her sister at the time of her death as she was apparently so scared of her walk home from the tram station to her student accommodation.
Ms Maasarwe’s sister was still on the phone and heard the entire attack unfold, her uncle said.
‘She seemed very happy. Then the phone fell down, she heard voices. The phone was on.’
Hundreds of people gathered crowded onto the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on the eve of Friday 19 in a vigil for Aiia.
Ms Maasarwe’s father was present at the vigil, and thanked the Melbourne community for their support.
“When I see people here like this, huge people support us, gives us a good feeling about Australia and about the community here in Australia,” he said.
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