Vigil for road victim

Kellie Cameron
Brimbank Leader

THE life of a lonely woman whose body was found dumped on a Sunshine nature strip will be remembered this weekend as the hunt for her killer continues.

Hundreds of residents are expected to gather for a candlelight vigil to mark the life of Hiep Thi Nguyen, whose partly clothed body was found on March 3 by a resident. Homicide Squad detectives say Ms Nguyen, 54, was bundled into a car that hit her as she walked through a car park in Withers St. She was found dumped at nearby Whitty St just after 6am. The investigation continues.
The Sunshine woman behind the vigil, Peta Brooks, said it was heartbreaking Ms Nguyen seemed to have no family or close friends.
“This community can be really isolating,” she said. “It was too easy for people to just forget, but she should not be forgotten.”
Detectives said Ms Nguyen, known as Bea, was an isolated person who came to Australia in 1994 as a Vietnamese refugee. She had few friends and no known enemies. Her Footscray clothing factory workmates are among those expected at the vigil, which has been advertised on flyers.

Organiser Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association vice-president Sean Spencer hopes for a sea of flickering candles. “This vigil is to demonstrate we all wanted Ms Nguyen to achieve her dream of a better life, and to voice our support for a community free of violence,” he said.

Western suburbs identity Les Twentyman and church leaders will speak. The vigil is this Sunday from 6pm at Wheelahan Reserve, Devonshire Rd, Sunshine.