Kerikeri remembers an exhuberant Libby

REMEMBER ME AND SMILE: It’s a year since Libby Templeman died.

WAIROA STREAM: The bridge was decorated last week – in bright colours, with flowers and messages to Libby.

BEFORE: Billy, Rebecca, Andy and Libby – displaying the exhuberance for which she was known.

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Family and friends of slain teenager Liberty Rose Templeman marked the first anniversary of her death in Kerikeri on November 1.

The bridge, near the Wairoa Stream orchard where Libby’s body was found a year ago, was decked out in orange, Libby’s favourite colour, and a ribbon twined around the railing was embroidered with her saying that has been quoted many times: "Everybody is absolutely gorgeous in their own way. Everybody."

Rebecca, her mother, had also embroidered: "Remember me and smile".

Libby Templeman was 15 when she died.

The Templeman family emigrated to New Zealand in 2006, settling in Kerikeri and later moving to Auckland, just 10 days before Libby died. Libby had been back in Kerikeri visiting friends at the time.

"This past year has felt like 10 years, going so slowly yet it only feels like a couple of months ago that we last saw and heard our beautiful, vibrant daughter. Her ‘surround sound’ is greatly missed," says Rebecca.

"Each day we wake up, and just breath in and out in the hope that we have the strength to make it through another day. Trying not to suffer the pain in which Libby was taken from us so violently.

"We live her last few minutes every day, like a looped recording, reeling in the disbelief, pain and humiliation in which she suffered.

"So many emotions, so many unanswered questions, but the main one being: ‘Why’. Never shall we understand or accept and nor should we. No one should."

Referring to the bridge decoration, Rebecca says: "We hope that we haven’t offended anybody. The flowers are a constant reminder of her love of nature and bright colours.

"The driftwood and flowers by the water’s edge is beautiful. It was lovely to see so many of Libby’s friends drifting by during the course of the day, flowers being left, balloons and notes of love and remembrance.

"The love and compassion shown to not only Libby, but us also, gives us the strength to remain focussed and strong. Especially with the pending trial in the months ahead".

A schoolboy charged with indecent assault and the murder of Liberty Templeman, is due to stand trial on February 8. His name is suppressed.

The boy, who was arrested five days after her body was found, has been in the custody of Child Youth and Family in Auckland.

- © Fairfax NZ News