A heartbreaking reminder of the 10-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her own mum remains on the balcony of her home -as she is remembered as the ‘smartest person’ in her school.
Sophie Wang, a Year 5 student at Emmanuel College, was unable to be saved by paramedics after they rushed to her home in Emerald Lakes, in Carrara, on the Gold Coast, just after 6pm on Tuesday.
Her father had found the 10-year-old with her throat allegedly slashed and phoned triple zero.
Sophie’s 46-year-old mother, Yingying Xu, was arrested in a nearby street just before 10.30pm and later charged with murder.
In a heartbreaking reminder of the domestic tragedy, some items of little Sophie’s school uniform could be seen drying on the line on the balcony at the back of the house.
Sophie’s classmate Oliver Hayes, 11, laid flowers outside her home on Wednesday afternoon with his mother and other school friends.
‘She was one of the smartest kids in our school,’ Oliver said.
‘There’s so many words to describe her. She was very nice, she really cared about people a lot and she was very kind.’
The Carrara community and Emmanuel College, which has its grounds just yards from the Wang-Xu house, is grappling with shock and grief in the wake of the horrifying incident.
On Thursday morning, several children accompanied by their parents came to lay flowers at the scene on their way to school.
Police tape is still blocking the residential street and a large criminal forensic van sits outside the front door of the property, as a team of officers could be seen entering and leaving the suburban home on Thursday morning.
It comes as a candlelit vigil is due to be held for Sophie on Friday at 4pm by the Main Fountain in Emerald Lakes.
A neighbour across the street from where the tragedy took place described Sophie as a ‘really friendly little girl’.
Amanda, 68, said she was in the same class as her grandson and used to see her walking to and from school.
‘I could always hear her playing music,’ Amanda told Daily Mail .
‘She was always walking to school and back. She was really friendly and would say hi. A really friendly little girl.’
Amanda said her grandson was being given counselling by the school.
‘He always talked about Sophie. They got along very well,’ she added.
‘It’s just so awful. The school and the whole community is just in shock.’
On Tuesday night, Daily Mail revealed that detectives are investigating religious TikToks Sophie’s mother made on the same day she allegedly killed her.
Earlier on Tuesday, Xu had posted three videos on TikTok in which she muttered to the camera about religion in Chinese.
In the clips, Xu talks about Christianity and how the ‘trinity’ is the ‘only true god’ and ‘Jesus is the incarnate son of man’.
The videos will form part of the investigation into the case, which seasoned detectives have describe as one of the ‘most confronting’ they have ever seen.
‘In my 15 years as a detective it is one of the most confronting scenes I have ever seen,’ Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis told reporters on Wednesday.
The tragedy has also rattled staff at Griffith University, where Prof Wang works in the chemistry and forensic science department, specialising in renewable energy.
Two male colleagues of Prof Wang’s turned up at the house on Wednesday afternoon with food but were turned away by an officer who told them the father was not there.
The university is offering support to Prof Wang and his close colleagues.
‘We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death 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 was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on November 29.