-
A cross erected at the Waimakariri River in remembrance of teenager Marie Davis who was raped, killed and dumped in the river - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
Friends of murdered teenager Marie Davis gathered on the banks
of the Waimakariri River to mark the first anniversary of her
disappearance.
It's been a year since the murdered Christchurch schoolgirl first
went missing. Her body was eventually found on the banks of the
Waimakariri.
Thirty-eight-year-old Dean Stewart Cameron will go on trial next month, charged with raping and murdering Marie.
Surrounded by the words of Marie's favourite song, her friends gathered on Sunday to remember a day they would all rather forget.
A seat fashioned by hand was set up in the area by Werner and Tracey Botha, the parents of Marie's best friend, who believe it was the best way they could think of, to honour her memory.
Werner Botha says her death still haunts them and they remember it 'like it just happened yesterday'.
"It will just keep her memory alive and just keep the awareness that this can happen to anybody," says Werner.
The 15-year-old's body was found in the area 12 days after she first went missing. After her funeral, a cross was erected by the river.
"Nobody expects it not to be vandalised...and there'd been people out here leaving messages on scraps of paper," says Werner.
Now a book's been placed upon the cross, to capture those thoughts forever.
The book is filled with messages for Marie from those who knew her and loved her and from complete strangers.
And its not just words that are being left. People are also leaving little objects, things that might've meant something to Marie.
Objects that mean a lot to those she has left behind as well.
