British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung was murdered in a stabbing attack and it is alleged the terrible deed was done by Frenchman Smail Ayad at backpacker accommodation south of Townsville, Queensland. That alone is just awful. Photo from Fairfax Press.
The accused. If he is found guilty, will spend a very long time in one of our gaols. I am thinking about 30 years. It is also alleged that Ayad stabbed to death the German Shepherd dog belonging to the owners of the hostel. The dog deserves a name and Atari it is. Also stabbed was the hostel night manager Grant Scholz, but he will recover. Photo Daily Mail.
No heroics so far, although maybe Atari and Scholz were heroes too, but it is reported that British backpacker Tom Jackson intervened in an attempt to help Mia. For his trouble, he was stabbed multiple times and a week after the terrible event, his hospital life support was turned off and he died. What a hero! A true hero. While I am sure Tom's loved ones would prefer that he did not intervene and still be alive, he was very very brave and they can be ever so proud of their hero. Photo UK Express.
Mia's mother was 'approached' by many media organisations, but instead of taking the filthy lucre, she approached the honourable Independent newspaper and has been writing a blog of how she is dealing with the the murder of her daughter and her journey to Australia. I found her writing compelling reading. Google for yourself, Independent and Rosie Ayliffe to read.