Hundreds hold vigil for Aiia Maasarwe, protesting the 'culture of violence' that has fostered murder.
A man was charged with the murder of an Israeli student, just three days after the fact, in case that has rocked Australia. Victoria Police announced on Saturday that the suspect, who is 20, would "face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court shortly."Although they did not release further details but the age and sex of the man, it is likely that the perpetrator is Codey Hermann, a local man who was arrested by police the previous day.
According to local media, Hermann was a troubled young man, who grew up in foster care. Although it is not known whether Hermann, who is an aspiring rapper sometimes going by the stage name MC Codez, was known to Maasarwe, he was reportedly a regular rider on the 86 tram that was taking the young woman home on Wednesday night. Maasarwe, who was reportedly five months into a year-long exchange at Melbourne's LaTrobe University, was coming home from a comedy club to the northern suburb of Bundoora before she was met by her attacker around midnight. She was talking on the phone with her sister, who was overseas and raised the alarm after something went awry mid-conversation, police said."(Her sister) heard the sound of the phone falling to the ground and heard some voices," Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told reporters. Victoria Police Police released these images of Aiia Maasarwe, taken on the night she was killed near Melbourne, Australia on 16 January, 2019.
Victoria Police Members of Aiia's family told The Australian that the 21-year-old was so scared of the walk from the tram stop to her home that she would often call one of her sisters while walking alone. Her body was found in bushes near a tram stop by passers-by several hours later. The 21-year old was from Baqa al-Gharbiyye, a northern Arab Israeli town sitting on the border with the West Bank. Victoria police, who have previously described the attack as "horrific", said the charge "follows an extensive investigation into Aiia's death following the discovery of her body" they added. The force also thanked "the community and the media for the assistance that they have provided during this investigation."
"Epidemic of violence against women"
Hundreds of people dressed in black held several vigils in Melbourne for Maasarwe on Friday, including filling the 86 tram, which she was believed to have ridden on her way home, with red roses that were reportedly her favorite flowers. Her father Saeed broke down at the crime scene Friday, where dozens of flowers and messages from the public were left nearby in support."I feel very, very sad from one side, but from another side, when I get this support and this help -- from the people, from the community, from the police -- it makes the suffering to feel a little more better," he told reporters."I want to be with her for more time, but someone decided I cannot be."Ellen Smith/AAP Image via AP Two women stand at a floral tribute, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at the scene where the body of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe was found earlier in the week in Melbourne, Australia. Maasarwe, a 21-year-old student who had been studying at La Trobe University.
Ellen Smith/AAP Image via AP The case, which has been all over the news in Australia, comes amid growing protests over violence against women. Campaigners on Friday called for an end to the "epidemic of violence against women" ahead of the vigil.Aiia's death follows a similar case in June last year, in which a 22-year old comedian was brutally murdered while coming home after performing.A third woman was killed in the same kind of attack in 2012. Dan Andrews, the Premier of the state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, said it was time to "end this culture of violence against women". "Nothing will change until we change, too. Until we stop blaming 'bad men' – while ignoring the sexist attitudes in our society that created them," the politician tweeted on Friday before sending his condolences to Aiia's family.
Thousands were expected to marches this weekend in Sydney and in capital Canberra for Women's March anniversary action, with 5,000 expected in Sydney.69 women have died in Australia in 2018, according the Counting Dead Women project. Israel is going through a similar soul-searching moment, with violence against women the cause of widespread protests at the end of last year.In 2018, 25 women died in gender-based violent crimes in Israel - a similar rate to Australia's - with an average of 70 criminal domestic violence complaints filed every day, according to figures published by the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO).
