Sydney: Work began on Monday to demolish a house in Australia where a woman allegedly killed eight children in a crime that shocked the country, with residents keen to see it torn down.
Asbestos was being removed from the home in the northern city of Cairns before heavy machinery move in later this week to raze it, national radio reported.
“This is a very key milestone,” said Michael White, coordinator of The Community Healing Project, which was set up by the Australian Red Cross to help deal with the emotional impact of the tragedy.
“Not only aesthetically for the community, but also for the healing process of people’s emotions and coming to a point where they feel they can move forward positively.”
The killings took place shortly before Christmas, stunning Australia, just as the nation was coming to terms with a dramatic siege in a central Sydney cafe that left two hostages and a gunman dead.
Raina Mersane Thaiday, the 37-year-old mother of seven of the children and an aunt to the eighth, was charged with their murder and is due to appear in court later this month.
Police have not revealed how the four girls and four boys, aged between two and 14, died although they said at the time they were looking into various scenarios, including suffocation. They also said knives were found at the house.
Local resident Ripene Benedito welcomed the demolition, saying the vacant house had “always been a reminder”.
“Every time you go past you get that funny feeling, and very sad feelings,” she told the Cairns Post newspaper.
“I never want to look at that house because that feeling is always there.”
There are plans for a memorial to take its place, with a community garden or playground being considered.
“Something that’s going to capture the spirits of the eight young lives,” said White.
