Emotional school service before vigil for slain Sophie

An emotional school service has been held for a girl allegedly killed by her mother, with hundreds of mourners paying tribute to the 10-year-old.

Students, staff and families at Gold Coast’s Emmanuel College gathered to remember Sophie Wang on Friday morning after the community was left reeling by the tragedy.

Floral tributes have been laid at her home and a candlelight vigil has also been organised on Friday afternoon amid a public outpouring of grief for the year 5 student.

Her father Yun Wang could reportedly be heard by neighbours screaming after discovering Sophie at their Emerald Lakes home in Carrara on Tuesday night.

She was declared dead at the “incredibly confronting” scene and her mother Yingying Xu was later charged with murder.

Students and parents were invited to bring flowers to Friday’s chapel service at the school, only a street away from Sophie’s home.

Police are seen at the Wang home in Carrara on the Gold Coast.Credit: AAPIMAGE

The chapel could not accommodate all the mourners, with the service broadcast outside.

Flowers and messages were left at a makeshift memorial at the school.

“What will continue is Sophie’s legacy and her memory,” an emotional Emmanuel College principal Dan Brown told reporters on Friday.

“She will be remembered as a bright, intelligent, thoughtful ... girl that loved her academics, loved reading.

“She also loved to sing and she was caring and compassionate and was a really great friend – those memories will live on.”

Brown said he was feeling “complete devastation” before confirming the school had offered counselling to students, staff and parents.

“They have shown incredible respect, character and strength for this particular tragedy,” he said of his staff and students’ response to the tragedy.

“They wrapped their hands around each other.

“I would also like to express, on behalf of the school, my deepest gratitude to the broader community for their well-wishes.”

People have been asked to gather and remember Sophie at an hour-long candlelight vigil from 4pm at Emerald Lakes’ The Boulevard on Friday.

“The incident on the Gold Coast is just heartbreaking,” Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.

“These sorts of events really do impact the entire community.”

The community is also rallying around Sophie’s father, Dr Wang, a respected academic.

He is an associate professor in chemistry and forensic science at Griffith University.

His wife Xu was remanded in custody after her case came before Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was adjourned until November 29.

Police said they were continuing to investigate the motive of the alleged homicide, including the social media activity of the accused.

AAP