Yagera woman Jayda Allen Bonner remembered at Melbourne vigil

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family.

Hundreds have gathered in Melbourne to pay tribute to a young Indigenous woman killed at an inner-suburban apartment complex last weekend.

A smoking ceremony was held in honour of 21-year-old Jayda Allen Bonner, who was remembered as "a beautiful soul" by her mother and aunt.

This week, a 31-year-old man was charged with murder and appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Police say he was known to Ms Allen Bonner.

Supporters of the Bonner family then marched to Victoria's Parliament to demand changes to domestic violence procedures and reform to better prevent violence against women.

Ms Allen Bonner's mother, Jade Allen, took part in the vigil, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with an image of her daughter and the phrase 'Justice for Jayda'.

"Jayda loved her family fiercely. She had a heart of gold — she would do anything for anybody," Ms Allen said.

"I want everyone to stand up and stop keeping all of this quiet. 

"I want to make sure Jayda's name isn't forgotten. She was one-of-a-kind."

Ms Allen Bonner's aunt Kellie Carter Bell said all Australians need to do more to speak out against violence against women.

"We need recognition, we need people to understand what this stuff looks like. 

"The question should be: What can I do to help (victim-survivors) get out safely?"

Questions raised over police response

Antoinette Braybrook, chief executive of Melbourne-based Aboriginal family violence service Djirra, said the 21-year-old's death was "devastating".

She said it was "outrageous" and "shocking" that Ms Allen Bonner could "fall through the cracks".

Ms Allen Bonner's family has previously said the young woman had made a complaint to police about her safety which she later withdrew.

Her family has also said they tried to contact police themselves, but were told that because Ms Allen Bonner was an adult, there was nothing they could do.

Ms Braybrook said that wasn't true.

"They have the power to investigate violence in the home and initiate their own intervention orders and charge people; my question is, why didn't they do that?"

Ms Braybrook added that it was not uncommon for women experiencing violence to withdraw their complaints to police, even if they were still in danger.

Speaking generally, she said women experiencing violence might be pressured into doing so or be threatened with further violence by their abusers.

"It's a consistent issue in our work."

While Djirra was now in contact with the young Yagera woman's family, Ms Braybrook said given the history of concern for Ms Allen Bonner's safety, it was "extremely disappointing" police or other authorities had not connected her with the service before her death.

"That's one of the concerns that we have as a specialist Aboriginal community-controlled organisation working on the frontline of Aboriginal women and children's safety," she said.

"I am just at a loss — I sit at the table, many tables, with police, with corrections, with courts and others, talking about how we can improve the safety of women.

"When things like this happen to women, it just makes those talks that we participate in all of the time seem like a joke."

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the death of a young woman in Carlton on October 10 was suspicious.

"The investigation is being led by the Homicide Squad," the police spokesperson said.

"As part of investigations, Victoria Police will thoroughly examine any interactions between police and the victim in the lead-up to her death.

"We are unable to comment further while the investigation remains ongoing."