Bundaberg holds memorial service for murder girl Trinity Bates

Trinity Leigh Bates, 8, was abducted from her Bundaberg home on Sunday night and killed. Picture: Queensland Police Source: AdelaideNow

Part of the Bundaberg CBD was blocked off last night as hundreds of mourners packed the inter-faith prayer vigil at the Bundaberg City Centre Pavilion.

Church representatives, friends and complete strangers expressed their sorrow for Trinity, who was found dead on Monday morning after disappearing from her home.

Allyn John Slater, 19, has been charged with her murder and yesterday was remanded in custody for a committal mention on May 17.

Prayer vigil organiser Pastor Roy Runu opened the service.

"My heart cries for people, as I saw children, their sadness their grief."

A school friend teared up, only managing to say "Trinity was my best friend".

Others said they turned out to the service to show support for her family.

"I just wanted to say sorry to the parents - couldn't imagine what you're going through."

 Slater yesterday sat with his head bowed after police escorted him into the Bundaberg Magistrates Court . He was transferred last night to Brisbane amid fears he could be the target of a revenge attack.

He is a medium to large set man with sandy hair and was dressed in brown prison clothes.

His legal aid lawyer, Thomas Bray, immediately asked magistrate Jennifer Batts to hear an application for Slater's case to be heard in a closed court.

She agreed to hear that application in closed court, and cleared the room while the matter was being considered.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Barry Stevens said he had no objection to the court being closed while the magistrate considered the application.

The magistrate subsequently dismissed the application for a closed court.

Slater was remanded in custody for committal mention on May 17.

The prosecution asked for a longer than normal period until the next court mention to enable officers to collect scientific information.

Ms Batts said she had no jurisdiction to grant bail.

When Slater arrived at court at 8.45am, one woman waiting outside yelled to police: "Why are you protecting him?"

About six police officers supervised his arrival.

A lead officer working on the case, Detective Superintendent Maurice Carless, said police were pleased an arrest had been made.

"A lot of police have worked on this," he said.

"It has been a top priority to the Queensland Police Service, as you could imagine, and we certainly thank the public and the media for their support in this investigation."

Police are refusing to comment on whether more charges are possible.

Trinity's death has devastated the sugarcane town. Police believe the autopsy will shed more light on her death.

Earlier, Trinity's grandmother remembered a fun-loving, pretty girl who loved to sing and dance, and enjoyed school and swimming.

"She was a beautiful, happy, loved and loving little girl."

The photogenic child also loved butterflies, singing, dancing, wearing lipstick and the camera.

"If there was a camera she would be there, with her face in it," Ms Hanlon said. "If you were having a bad day, Trinny would walk in and your day was all good."

Trinity's body was found in a drain near her family's Walker St home early on Monday, soon after her father reported her missing from her bed.

Police said there were signs of a break-in at the house.

Residents and neighbours have expressed fear and shock, leaving flowers outside the girl's home and near the drain where her body was found

. "Sleep in peace little angel. RIP beautiful girl. We never knew you or your family but our thoughts are with you. XXX May you dance with the angels," read one card. s

Rita Ammann lives just two streets from the drain where Trinity was found and came to lay flowers yesterday.

As a mum to teenage boys and a three-year-old daughter, she's not taking any chances with her own little girl. One of her strapping teenage boys now sleeps beside the young girl.

"It's too shocking. We live two streets away and we just don't know what to do," Ms Ammann said, tears streaming down her face.

"We've got teenage boys and we've got one sleeping beside the three-year-old. You can't trust anybody now."

For the second time in a week, police were forced to shut down pornographic and other offensive content posted on tribute pages for a dead child.

Facebook pages set up to honour Trinity were defaced with explicit content, just as pages were last week for 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher, who was stabbed to death at his Brisbane school.