Girl, 10, found dead at home in Emerald Lakes, Carrara
The 46-year-old mother of a private school student has been charged with murder after 10-year-old Sophie Wang, the daughter of a Griffith Uni academic, was found dead.
Police & Courts
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An elite Gold Coast college community is in shock after a 10-year-old girl found dead with a slashed throat was identified as a student.
The young girl has been identified as Sophie Wang, a Year 5 student at Emmanuel College.
Police and paramedics were called to a home at Emerald Lakes at Carrara just after 6pm on Tuesday where they found a 10-year-old girl, allegedly with her throat slashed.
Sophie’s mother, Yingying Xu, has been charged with murder over the horrific death.
Paramedics attempted to revive the girl but she was sadly declared dead at the scene.
Officers declared the area a crime scene and blocked off the street, launching a homicide investigation called Operation Whiskey Omega.
At 10.25pm, officers arrested and charged a 46-year-old Xu, who was found at a nearby street.
Xu, did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court in person and police attempted to have her names and all details of the case suppressed in an application supported by her lawyer.
But the prosecutor withdrew the suppression application after it was opposed by lawyers representing media outlets including The Courier-Mail.
Magistrate Sue Ganasan accepted details of the case were already in the public realm.
Xu was remanded in custody to reappear in the magistrates court on November 29, with police ordered to provide a brief by November 8.
Murder accused cannot apply for bail in the magistrates court and have to seek Supreme Court bail.
It’s been revealed that Sophie was the daughter of Griffith University academic Dr Yun Wang, who is understood to have discovered his daughter’s body in the living room of their Emerald Lakes home.
Dr Wang is an associate professor in chemistry and forensic science at the university.
Two of his university colleagues arrived at Southport Magistrates Court where Dr Wang’s wife Yingying Xu was appearing charged with murder.
They told court staff they were trying to track down Dr Wang to offer their support.
“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.
“The University has offered support to him and his close colleagues.”
In an update on Wednesday morning Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis said the scene was the most confronting he had encountered and police were determined to see that justice was done.
“This is a tragic and distressing incident and our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time,” he said.
“ ... The scene was incredibly confronting and our attending members, both the police and paramedics, will be receiving the necessary support.
“In my 15-year career as a detective it is one of the most confronting scenes I have seen.”
Detective Ellis said the Triple 0 call to emergency services had been made by the girl’s father.
“ Despite the father and emergency services’ best efforts, the young 10-year-old girl was pronounced deceased by attending paramedics,” he said.
“An investigation was immediately commenced and as a result the child’s mother has been arrested for her murder.”
He said police understood the events had caused distress in the community, and urged anyone affected to reach out to support services.
“We understand that this is going to cause distress among the community but can I please remind the community that there is no one outstanding and there is no ongoing community safety concern at this time,” he said.
“We’d encourage anyone within the community who is distressed by this incident to please reach out to the necessary support services.
“Our investigation is ongoing and we are committed to ensuring that justice is achieved for this 10-year-old victim.”
The girl attended nearby Emmanuel College, with principal Dan Brown issuing a letter to the school community on Wednesday morning.
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragic incident that occurred in a home within Emerald Lakes last night, resulting in the passing of one of our beloved students,” the letter said.
“We are devastated by this incident and know it will profoundly impact our school community.
“Our prayers go out to the family and friends of the child, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.”
Mr Brown said in the letter a team of counselling staff would be available across both Emmanuel College and Josiah College to support grieving students.
“Our priority is the wellbeing of our students and staff, and we will do everything possible to help our community over the coming days,” he said.
“Please be assured we are here for all in our community – students, staff and parents – and these support services are available to anyone in need.
“While words cannot ease the shock and pain of such a tragic loss, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”
Speaking at the scene, Inspector Lou Serafim said emergency services had been called by a male relative of the girl about 6pm.
“At approximately six o’clock this evening police received a triple-0 emergency call in relation to a 10-year-old girl who was located deceased in a unit,” she said.
“At this point in time we are treating the death of the 10-year-old girl as suspicious, and investigations are currently under way in relation to the demise of the girl.
“The triple-0 call was made by a relative who was at the incident scene when they located the 10-year-old girl.”
Insp Serafim said the girl lived at the address where her body was found.
She said people at the property had been co-operating with police.
“We’ve had nothing but co-operation from the people here and also the residents of the unit complex,” she said.
That included the man who called triple-0, who was seen wearing a blue forensic suit at the scene.
“He is a relative and he is being very cooperative and is assisting police with the investigation,” she said.
Insp Serafim was unable to say if police had recovered a weapon, or if officers knew how long the girl had been deceased before her body was discovered.
She said emergency services had encountered a confronting scene when they arrived at the property.
They had been receiving counselling after what they witnessed.
“My staff who attended as first responders and also the emergency services from the Queensland Ambulance Service have entered a scene that is quite traumatic, and these officers and the paramedics are receiving internal counselling in relation to the incident that they were exposed to,” she said.
Neighbour Tracey Donovan said a couple lived at the address with their young daughter.
She described seeing what she believed was the father as he was led towards an ambulance at the crime scene overnight.
“I just heard him wailing” she said.
“It was the most horrific sound I have ever heard.
“That was a cry that words cannot explain – haunting.”
Detectives from the Child Protection and Investigation Unit were at the crime scene late into evening speaking with neighbours, according to miss Donovan.
She said the family were quiet and friendly – their daughter would often been seen playing with other children in the street.
“For something like this to happen it’s a real tragedy.
“I think the whole street will feel it- just being so close to home.”
At this stage the Queensland Police Service has not officially confirmed whether the incident is being investigated as an alleged domestic violence homicide.
On Tuesday night, the street where the grim discovery was made was blocked off by police, who had multiple units at the scene.
An ambulance remained parked in front of the property, while shortly before 8pm a gazebo was erected beside it.
Forensics officers in blue suits were seen entering the property.
A resident said she was shocked by what had happened.
“It’s normally very quiet around here,” she said.
“I can’t believe it.”
Another local woman said she would struggle to sleep after hearing what had happened.
“It’s terrible, so upsetting,” she said.
The woman, who said she had herself lost a child to illness some years ago, said her thoughts were with the family of the dead girl.
“It (losing a child) is the worst feeling in the world,” she said.
Emerald Lakes residents took to a community Facebook page on Tuesday night to express their shock at the tragedy.
“I live just down the road and I’m in complete shock, my heart goes out to this family, I cannot imagine what they must be feeling. RIP little angel,” one woman posted.
Posting on Instagram, another local wrote: “This is my neighbourhood, our community, I’m crying, total shock, hold your loved ones even closer, what is happening to this world! RIP ANGEL, sending you all the love you deserve.”
Tom Tate paid tribute to young Sophie Wang, saying her death was a tragedy which would affect the whole city.
Mr Tate, who returned from Paris early on Wednesday morning, said he would be briefed by senior police about the situation and what more council could do.
“First I read it, it was heart-wrenching and if you a person who has family or kids, to read it and absorb it takes a bit of your soul away,” he said.
“Condolences of course to the family ... I will be asking police to help me understand what has happened and if there’s s anything council can do.
“This is a very sad event and when something like that happens, it takes a little bit out of everybody.”
He confirmed the woman charged was not a council employee.
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