Stephanie Scott: Leeton murder victim remembered by her loving family on her 27th birthday
STEPHANIE Scott, who was murdered five days before her wedding, would have turned 27 today and her family have asked wellwishers to pay tribute in an unusual way.
THE Scott family always made a big deal of their children’s birthdays but on the day their daughter Stephanie was due to turn 27 they have only memories to mark the occasion.
The Riverina schoolteacher should have been celebrating her birthday with her family today.
But instead of marking the occasion with cake and presents, the Scott family has asked the Leeton community to have cup of tea to remember the murder victim at 3pm — the time she was born.
Ms Scott was allegedly raped and killed by Vincent Stanford, 24, who worked as a cleaner at the school she taught at Leeton High School, on Easter Sunday.
She was reported missing by her fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley on Easter Monday a week before they were due to marry.
Her burnt remains were found in national park 70km from Leeton a day after Stanford was charged with her murder.
His twin brother Marcus was charged in June for being an accessory after the fact to murder after Vincent allegedly mailed Ms Scott’s personal belongings to him in Adelaide. The pair, who has not entered any pleas, is both due in Griffith Local Court next month.
Stephanie’s sister Kim Scott posted a series of photos of Stephanie’s birthdays from her birth to her young adulthood.
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“Who knew on this day 27 years ago an angel like you would be born. Although you weren’t a boy as dad first thought, we wouldn’t have had you any other way,” she posted on her Facebook page.
“To say we were lucky is an understatement. To the girl who defines the word ‘fun-loving’, happy birthday. I’m so proud to call you my little sister. And although you may not be here, I’m sure you’ll be sprinkling a few hundreds and thousands in heaven today.
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“To remember the girl who loved to party, mum is asking everyone to have a cup of tea at 3pm tomorrow ... the time she was born.
“She always made our birthdays special, so let’s do the same for Stephanie.
Friends posted their support.
“Kim, a lovely collection of birthday pics of Steph. Certainly had a good variety of cakes! She is smiling down on you all today and giving all your family and Aaron her special hugs,” Kim Maddock wrote.
Jessica Sevil simply wrote: “She was gorgeous from the start.”
TIMELINE OF A TRAGEDY
April 5: 26-year-old teacher Stephanie Scott is last seen alive on Easter Sunday at Leeton High School
April 6: She is reported missing by her fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley (pictured with her above)
April 8: Police arrest school cleaner Vincent Stanford, 24, at his Leeton home after allegedly finding a photo of a body on his phone
April 9: Stanford is charged with murder and remanded in custody. Ms Scott’s red car is found abandoned near Leeton (above)
April 10: Police find Ms Scott’s burned remains in Cocoparra National Park, 70km from Leeton
April 11: Family and friends pay tribute to Ms Scott at a picnic on what would have been her wedding day. Mr Leeson-Woolley was inconsolable with grief (below)
June 3: Vincent Stanford appears in court via video link and is charged with the aggravated sexual assault of Ms Scott before her death
June 10: Vincent’s twin brother Marcus Stanford is arrested at his home in South Australia. He is accused of playing a role after Ms Scott’s alleged murder and is due to be extradited to answer police questions in NSW today
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