Aia Masarwe: Friends leave tributes for murdered student

Friends, strangers alike pay tribute to murdered Israeli student Aia Masarwe with cards, flowers at a growing makeshift shrine.

A message for Aia Masarwe is left on a card at the site where the exchange student was found dead. Picture: Aaron Francis

Friends of Aia Masarwe have left flowers and tributes at a growing makeshift shrine where the student’s body was found.

The Israeli woman’s body was found near a tram stop in Bundoora, in Melbourne’s north, yesterday morning.

Aia Masarwe. Source: Instagram

A group of fellow students from nearby La Trobe University, where Ms Masarwe studied, came to the Polaris shopping centre and left flowers.

Although they declined to speak to the media they left messages in their cards.

“RIP my dear. Diana and I will miss you. You are in a better place now. Just rest and be in peace now. We both love you. Mohammed and Diana”, one tribute read.

Another said: “RIP my dear. I will miss you so much and your positive energy. Please rest now. You are in a better place now. I love you always.”

Two boxes of Tim Tams were left at the memorial.

Students from nearby La Trobe University lay flowers at the site where exchange student Aia Masarwe was found dead in Bundoora. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Other visitors to the scene, like La Trobe University employee Beatrice Alba, who left flowers, did not know Ms Masarwe but had been moved by her story.

“Our building is just across the road, I was shocked to see this in the news,” Ms Alba said.

“I just want them (Ms Masarwe’s family) to know that everyone in the area is thinking of

them and we’re horrified about what’s happened.

“We’re very ashamed that something like this could happen in Australia.”