Bundoora murder arrest: man held over Aiia Maasarwe killing

Codey Herrmann, 20, is in custody over the murder of Israeli student Aiia Maasarwe, killed near a Melbourne tram stop.

A 20-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the murder of young international student Aiia Maasarwe, who was killed near a northern Melbourne tram stop while walking back to her student accommodation.

Codey Herrmann, who appears to have posted on social media as an aspiring rapper, was this morning arrested by local Victoria Police officers, with the assistance of homicide detectives, in Greensborough, in Melbourne’s north.

The arrest was made at 11.20am.

Mr Herrmann was approached by police in a public barbecue area in a Greensborough park before being taken into custody, the Herald Sun reports.

People lay flowers near the Bundoora shopping centre. Picture: AAP

Mr Herrmann, who called himself McCodez, attended the local Bundoora Secondary College, according to one of his social media accounts.

Greensborough is about nine kilometres from where Ms Maasarwe’s body was found on Wednesday morning at 7am, nearly seven hours after she was attacked.

Police this afternoon also taped off a rundown property in Grimshaw Street, Bundoora, which neighbours say is used by squatters.

Ms Maasarwe, 21, had attended a comedy show at North Melbourne’s The Comic Lounge on Tuesday night.

Ms Maasarwe had caught the number 86 tram home after her night out.

A tribute to Ms Maasarwe in Bundoora. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The arrest followings an extensive investigation into Aiia’s death following the discovery of her body near Main Drive and Plenty Road in Bundoora,” a police spokeswoman said.

“Police would like to thank the public for their assistance with the investigation.”

A vigil at Victoria's Parliament House is planned for tonight at 6pm, and attendees are asked to wear all-black outfits.

Following the vigil, mourners plan to take flowers on the 8.01pm tram from parliament to Bundoora Park.

Ms Maasarwe’s father arrived in Melbourne yesterday. The Israeli Embassy said it would support the student’s family and return her body for burial.

‘I still wait for her’

The father of Ms Maasarwe has visited the scene of her death, fighting back tears as he spoke about her love for people and their plans to travel Australia together.

After reading cards on floral tributes and meeting others who have been paying tribute to his daughter, Saeed Maasarwe said he had been touched by the support the community and police have given his family.

“This has given me (a) good feeling, but also from another way, I am sad because this is the last place my daughter … was here,” he said. “I have many dreams to be with her.

“But I cannot now, to be more with Aiia. I want to be with her (for) more time, but someone decided I cannot be. I wish, I hope, I pray she is in a more nice place than this place, and in the paradise.”