Murdered tourist’s mother pays the most beautiful tribute

While it is already heartbreaking to have to put the soul of your offspring to rest, it’s even worse when it is a child that was brutally murdered.

The mother of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who was killed in Townsville, says her daughter’s ashes will be scattered around the world so she “can visit places” she will now never discover.

Rosie Ayliffe is coming to terms with her loss, after her 21-year-old daughter was stabbed to death in Australia on Tuesday, allegedly by 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad.

Writing in a daily blog for The Independent, Ms Ayliffe, from Wirksworth in Derbyshire, described plans for her daughter’s cremation as she prepares to head for Australia to collect the ashes.

“I’m fully aware that her body is on a slab somewhere in a cold dark place,” Ms Ayliffe wrote. “She wouldn’t mind the dark, but she’s not good with the cold. I couldn’t bear for her to be kept like that for weeks and decided she needed to be cremated sooner rather than later.

“I know some of her friends are struggling with that, because they wanted her body brought home and a cremation or burial here in the Wirksworth area, but she has friends all over the place. Hence the plan to create a place of remembrance here, but also to give various people vials of Mia’s ashes to scatter in places dear to her or to them. That way she can visit places she hasn’t visited yet. Canada, New Zealand, Singapore.”

Meanwhile, the family of a Briton injured in the stabbing have said they are “immensely proud” of him after he tried to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung’s life.

Tom Jackson, 30, received critical injuries when he tried to help his compatriot. His father Les Jackson issued a statement also praising the work of medical staff at Townsville Hospital in Queensland, where his son is being treated.

Mr Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault.

He did not appear in court on Friday but was remanded in custody and his case has been adjourned until October 28.

Police are investigating reports that the Frenchman had an unrequited romantic interest or an “obsession” with Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

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