Hundreds attend Chinese student's funeral in Sydney

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-08 11:09

SYDNEY - Hundreds of Asian people on Saturday morning attended the funeral of Liao Wei, who fell to death from the balcony of her Waterloo apartment on October 26 as she tried to escape an armed intruder.

The funeral was held at a traditional Buddhist ceremony at Sydney Olympic park. Wu Liping, mother of Liao Wei, said her daughter was "an angel".

Related readings:
Chinese student died escaping intruder in Australia

"Her sudden leave has taken away all the joy, happiness and hope of my family, and no longer can we hear her sweet angelic voice calling mum and dad," Wu said tearfully.

Hundreds of Asian students carrying flowers and pink lotus flower candles gathered at her service, also attended by Consulate Professor Gang Bai from the Chinese Consulate and Henry Tsang, Labor MP in the New South Wales parliament and member of the legislative counsel.

After the ceremony, mourners were invited to lay floral tributes as photos of Wei as a girl were projected onto a screen and her favorite songs were played.

The funeral will be followed by a cremation of Wei at North Ryde on Saturday afternoon.