Family members of Masa Vukotic, the 17-year-old schoolgirl killed while walking through a park near her Doncaster home in March, gathered at a park on Monday to mourn her.
Masa’s mother, Natasa Celebic, and siblings Nadja, 14, and Petar, 16, joined a group of about 20 people in Melbourne’s Flagstaff gardens to hold a vigil and anti-violence rally. Many were wearing pink, Masa’s favourite colour.
A larger rally initially planned by supporters of the family was cancelled due to police concerns about safety.
Friends of Masa also gathered at the park, dressed in colourful costumes.
Masa was found with stab wounds in Koonung creek linear park, with police saying at the time it appeared she had been randomly attacked during her evening walk. She was still alive when paramedics found her but died at the scene and could not be revived.
A comprehensive media campaign to find her alleged killer, which included the release of CCTV footage by police, led to an arrest.
The parents of Mersina Halvagis, 25 – who was murdered at Fawkner cemetery while visiting her grandmother’s grave – were also present at the vigil and later embraced Masa’s parents.
