Mourners honour murdered dentist Preethi Reddy, highlights violence against women ‘crisis’
More than 100 people have gathered at a candlelight vigil tonight to mourn the loss of murdered Sydney dentist Preethi Reddy and to highlight the plight of violence against women.
More than 100 people have gathered at a candlelight vigil tonight to mourn the loss of murdered Sydney dentist Preethi Reddy.
Tears, embraces and prayers filled the public gathering on the steps of Sydney Town Hall to remember the life of Dr Reddy, 32, whose body was found dumped in a suitcase in Kingsford on Tuesday.
Her ex-boyfriend, Harsh Narde, is suspected of murdering her before killing himself in a fiery car crash near Tamworth on Monday.
Frontline medical staff, who organised the vigil, said the gathering was about showing support for Dr Reddy’s family and friends and ensuring her memory lived on.
Dr Karen Wills, a psychiatrist specialising in trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder on the NSW South Coast, said the incident had hit home for many workers in the medical community.
“Preethi’s sister is a doctor at RPA (and) had come on to one of the medical groups last weekend saying ‘has anyone seen her?’. It makes it very close to home when it’s one of your own community members,” Dr Wills said.
Dr Wills said the incident was part of a larger “epidemic” of violence against women in Australia.
“It’s a major public health issue and something medical staff and emergency services are seeing the impacts of every day,” she said.
“(The vigil) is about honouring Preethi. We just don’t want her life to disappear.”
Dr Reddy was reported missing last Sunday when she failed to return home from a dental convention at St Leonards last weekend.
According to police Dr Reddy spent the night with Mr Narde, who she had reconnected with at the convention, before going missing.
Residents from Glenbrook, where Dr Reddy lived, said the incident had sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
“This kind of thing doesn’t happen in Glenbrook,” said Pat, who did not want to provide her surname.
“I didn’t know her well but we’d wave to each other on the street. She was always smiling.
“It’s just absolutely shocking.”
In 2018, 63 women were killed due to violence. Three months into 2019, 12 women and three children have already been killed by violence
Marrickville resident Rhea de Melo, 28, who attended the vigil, called for tougher laws to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
“It’s a crisis and I think people enact some serious change,” she said.
Dedications signed by mourners included expressions of shock, sadness and messages that “we will never forget you”.
“Your life was cut short but your presence touched many,” wrote one attendee.
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