Community shocked over death of toddler Sanaya Shaib

ON ANY other Sunday, this Heidelberg West park would be graced by families lazing in the autumn sunshine. Yesterday there was no laughter or leisure, only an aura of tragedy.

Missing Kid in Heidelberg

ON any other Sunday, Olympic Park in Heidelberg West would be graced by families lazing in the autumn sunshine: children playing on swings, dogs chasing balls, people enjoying picnics and riding bikes.

But not yesterday.

There was no laughter or leisure.

There was only an aura of tragedy, only questions about how a young toddler had died, and fear concerning her apparent abduction.

The park, which was created for the 1956 Olympics, is a popular soccer venue, ordinarily a restful oasis.

Now, it is the scene of a homicide. The lifeless, partially submerged body of 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib, dressed in a white top with blue and yellow flowers and white leggings, was found on the western side of Darebin Creek in the cold of darkness at 2.45am yesterday.

Large sections of the park were sealed off by blue and white-checked police tape as officers and State Emergency Service personnel hunted through the reserve in search of clues.

Police remove Sanaya’s body found on the banks of Darebin Creek. Picture: David Crosling

Sanaya’s mother, Sofina Nikat, told police that mid-morning on Saturday, a barefoot man smelling of liquor, perhaps aged 20 to 30 and of African appearance, had bowled her over and snatched the helpless child, unbuckling Sanaya from her yellow and blue pram.

Ms Nikat said she had been on a wooden park bench that sits between trees and thicker bushland.

She told detectives the kidnapper then escaped over a wooden bridge leading to the other side of Darebin Creek. She gave chase, but was unable to keep up, she said.

Sofina Nikat (centre) is led from her home. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

News of a daylight attack out of the blue, just 50m from the carpark at Northland, one of Melbourne’s busiest shopping centres, was stunning.

Yesterday, police had cordoned off part of that carpark, as unnerved shoppers walked past.

Just 24 hours earlier, hundreds had made their way through the same area, unaware of the horror being perpetrated just metres away.

Sanaya’s body was found overnight by a good Samaritan family of four who had taken it on themselves to help in the frantic search.

They had become aware of her disappearance through Facebook posts.

Having endured the disappearance of one of their own children some years ago — their child was found alive and well — they felt driven to help. No doubt they wanted Sanaya’s family to feel the same joy and relief they had experienced. Terribly, it wasn’t to be.

As news spread of the grisly find, some locals placed flowers and teddy bears at the scene in tribute.

Local residents arrive with a teddy and flowers. Picture: David Crosling

Less than 1km away at a simple, cream brick home, Ms Nikat was being comforted by a neighbour of her brother Habib Ali, with whom she had been staying. A stream of extended family and friends came to offer support and share their grief.

Local resident Michelle, who knew Sanaya’s uncle but not her mother, said she had a grandson of the same age.

“I couldn’t sleep, knowing she was out there somewhere,” she said.

Michelle’s note placed on a pink bouquet of flowers she laid at the scene read simply: “RIP Sanaya. Taken too young.”

Michelle’s note on a pink bouquet of flowers. Picture: David Crosling

A short time later, the coroner’s van arrived and took away the tiny body for examination and formal identification at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Then the orange-clad SES, moving in lines, resumed their search for clues, and police photographers moved through deep reeds by the creek, hoping to find more evidence.

The playground remained deserted, its slide, climbing wall, tunnel and chain bridge unused.

Children and laughter will return to this tranquil part of suburban Melbourne — but not soon.

LOCALS IN SHOCK AT TRAGEDY CLOSE TO HOME

SHOPPERS have reacted with shock and disbelief after a dead toddler was found dumped in a creek just metres from a major shopping precinct.

The body of 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib was found in Darebin Creek about 2:45am this morning, less than 50 metres from the side fence of the bustling Northland Shopping Centre carpark in Preston.

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Nearby resident Michelle said she was shocked because the parkland was normally busy with bike riders, walkers and families with dogs on the weekend.

“At the time the baby went missing (about 10am on Saturday) the park wouldn’t have been too busy, but there would have normally been some people playing ball games and bike riders going past,” she said.

Nicole, who did not want to give her surname, said she has lived in the Heidelberg West area for 39 years.

Local residents arrive with a teddy and flowers for 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib. Picture: David Crosling

“I go to the creek with my girls all the time. This is absolutely terrifying,” she said.

“A lot of families like going down there so it’s hard to think about something like this happening.

“It would have been really busy down there on a Saturday morning so hopefully somebody saw something which can help the police get the person who did this.

“The area has had its problems. It used to be heroin but in the last five years or so it has been the ice.”

Another Heidelberg West resident said she took her dog for walks at Olympic Park, but she “never felt completely safe”.

Ivanhoe resident Sophie, who shops at Northland regularly, said she never thought something like that could happen so close to the shopping centre.

“It’s really scary. You would hope someone would have seen it,” she said.

“It’s so scary that it could happen with so many people around. I don’t want to say it’s an unsafe neighbourhood, but it definitely makes you more mindful.”

A number of Heidelberg West residents visited the scene yesterday to deliver flowers.

A woman named Michelle said she knew Sanaya’s uncle and would occasionally see the toddler and mother walk past her house.

“She looked like a happy girl,” she said.

“I couldn’t sleep knowing she was out there somewhere.

“I’m very shocked, I was hoping she was alive. My heart just breaks for the little one and my heart just goes out for the aunty and uncle.”

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