Following the killing of 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung at a hostel in Home Hill, near Townsville last week, the British backpacker's mother has written a candid account of her grief.
In a blog post for the Independent, Rosie Ayliffe has described the anxious concern she had for her daughter so far away doing the farm work required to extend her Australian visa.
"I was expecting to be called out, I genuinely believed she was going to be bitten by a snake."
In the piece, Mia's mother outlines the plan of asking people close to Mia to help scatter her ashes across the world.
"That way she can visit places she hasn’t visited yet. Canada, New Zealand, Singapore. People are making huge journeys to mourn her."
She also takes issue with the way the media has covered her daughter's death.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung. Source: Facebook
"Much nonsense is being spoken in the press about her alleged killer.
"Smail Ayad – the French man being held on suspicion of my daughter’s murder – is not an Islamic fundamentalist, he has never set foot in a mosque."
Mia was killed in a stabbing attack that left another man critically injured. During the rampage, the man charged over her murder allegedly shouted 'Allahu akbar'.
Police are investigating whether the Frenchman had an unrequited romantic interest or an 'obsession' with her.
Meanwhile, the family of British man injured in the stabbing have said they are "immensely proud" of him after he tried to save Mia's life.
Tom Jackson's father Les issued a statement also praising the work of medical staff at Townsville Hospital in Queensland, where his son is being treated.
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.
