A school friend of the 10-year-old girl believed to have been murdered by her own mother has written a heartbreaking tribute to the “shy but incredibly sweet and kind” victim.
Emmanuel College Year 5 student Sophie Wang could not be saved by emergency services after they rushed to her home in Emerald Lakes, Carrara, on the Gold Coast, just after 6pm on Tuesday.
Her father, associate professor Yun Wang, found the 10-year-old girl with her throat slit and called 003.
Sophie’s 46-year-old mother, Yingying Xu, was arrested on a nearby street just before 10:30 p.m. and later charged with murder.
On Friday morning, Emmanuel College hosted a moving ‘time of reflection and prayer for Sophie’s family, friends, our community and everyone affected by this tragedy’ prior to the chapel service.
Grief-stricken children laid flowers, candles and heartfelt messages for their classmate, who was previously described as the ‘smartest girl in school’.
Kayla, whose brother Luke was in Sophie’s class, said he described her as “a little shy, but incredibly sweet and kind.”
Sophie Wang, a Year 5 student at Emmanuel College, could not be saved by paramedics after they rushed to her home in Emerald Lakes, Carrara, on the Gold Coast, just after 6pm on Tuesday. She was remembered by schoolmates as bright and kind
On Friday morning Emmanuel College held a moving ‘time of reflection and prayer for Sophie’s family, friends, our community and everyone affected by this tragedy’ before their chapel service
Grief-stricken children laid flowers, candles and heartfelt messages for their classmate, who was previously described as the ‘smartest girl in school’
“Everyone here at Emmanuel is devastated and heartbroken as we have lost a beautiful, amazing girl who could have had a bright future had she not passed away so early,” Kayla’s letter read.
“I hope that wherever you are, you are happy and doing well.”
Teresa, a ‘friend’ of Sophie’s in the second year, said she had a ‘beautiful, happy face’.
“I am so sorry this happened to you and I hope the pain has subsided and you are safe,” Teresa wrote.
She added: ‘Can you see all those beautiful flowers people gave you? They’re so pretty! I hope they cheer you up.’
Holding back tears, Emmanuel College principal Dan Brown described Sophie as a “fantastic young lady” and said the school was “completely devastated” by her loss.
“She was a wonderful friend, she was known for being compassionate and caring,” he said.
In a poignant reminder of the domestic tragedy, pieces of Sophie’s school uniform were seen drying on a line on the balcony at the back of the house on Thursday.
Pictured: A vigil at Emmanuel College, held before the school’s Friday morning chapel service
Teresa, a ‘sophomore friend’ of Sophie’s, said she had a ‘beautiful, happy face’
The Carrara community and Emmanuel College, which is just metres away from the Wang Xu house, are shocked and saddened by the horrific incident.
Sophie’s classmate Oliver Hayes, 11, laid flowers outside her house on Wednesday afternoon with his mother and other school friends.
“She was one of the smartest kids in our school,” Oliver said.
“There are so many words to describe her. She was very kind, she really cared about people and she was very nice.”
On Thursday morning, several children, accompanied by their parents, laid flowers at the crime scene on their way to school.
The Carrara community and Emmanuel College, which is just metres away from the Wang Xu house, are shocked and saddened by the horrific incident.
In a heartbreaking reminder of the domestic tragedy, pieces of little Sophie’s school uniform were seen hanging on a line to dry on the balcony at the back of the house (pictured)
This comes as a candlelight vigil for Sophie is held at the main fountain in Emerald Lakes on Friday at 4pm.
A neighbor across the street from where the tragedy occurred described Sophie as a “very friendly girl.”
Amanda, 68, said she was in the same class as her grandson and often saw her walking to and from school.
“I could always hear her making music,” Amanda told Daily Mail Australia.
“She always walked to school and back. She was very friendly and always said hello. A very friendly girl.”
Sophie’s 46-year-old mother, Yingying Xu (pictured), was arrested on a nearby street just before 10:30 p.m. and later charged with murder
Amanda said her grandson received guidance from the school.
“He always talked about Sophie. They got along really well,” she added.
“It’s just so horrible. The school and the whole community is just in shock.”
A mother whose daughter was in Sophie’s choir placed daffodils at the crime scene on Thursday afternoon.
“Everyone is just in shock, no one will ever really understand. It’s so hard on the kids,” the mother of two said.
She told me that Sophie was a member of Emmanuel College’s reading club, a popular program for children who have read more than a million words.
“We often saw her reading in the library in the mornings. She was a really good reader,” the mother added.
Police tape continues to block the residential street and a large forensic police car is parked outside the front door of the property as a team of officers entered and exited the suburban home on Thursday morning (photo)
Emanuel College staff member pays respects after little girl allegedly killed by her mother
On Tuesday evening, Daily Mail Australia reported that detectives are investigating religious TikToks made by Sophie’s mother on the same day she allegedly murdered her.
Earlier on Tuesday, Xu posted three videos on TikTok in which she mumbled to the camera in Chinese about religion.
In the excerpts, Xu talks about Christianity and how the “Trinity” is the “one true God” and “Jesus is the incarnate son of man.”
The videos are part of the investigation into the case, which veteran detectives have described as one of the “most confronting” they have ever seen.
“In my 15 years as a detective, this is one of the most confronting scenes I have ever seen,” Detective Inspector Kent Ellis told reporters on Wednesday.
The tragedy has also shocked staff at Griffith University, where Sophie’s father, Professor Wang, works in the department of chemistry and forensic sciences, specialising in renewable energy.
Two male colleagues of Prof Wang came to the house with food on Wednesday afternoon, but were turned away by a police officer because the father was not there.
The university provides support to Prof. Wang and his close colleagues.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the daughter of a valued member of the Griffith community,” the university said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Xu has been remanded in custody and will appear in court on November 29.