Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia-Shu’s naked body was found by her 14-year-old brother on Monday, 10 minutes after she went to the toilet at Livingston Market Place shopping centre at Canning Vale, in Perth’s south.

A 21-year-old man from the Canning Vale area has been charged with wilful murder, sexual penetration of a child and deprivation of liberty.

Sofia’s school, the Mater Christi Catholic Primary School at Yangebup, yesterday held prayer services for the little girl.

A school spokeswoman said a shrine had been set up for Sofia in the school grounds and counsellors were helping the girl’s friends and classmates.

Parish priest Bryan Rosling said Sofia was a well-behaved and well-liked girl, from a respected and admired family that had been shattered by her senseless death.

“She was just a gorgeous little girl, and she will always be that now,” Fr Rosling said.

“She was very sweet, very quiet, affectionate and much loved by everyone.”

Fr Rosling said he had received many messages of support and offers of help for the family from the local community, and the family was very appreciative.

“I have assured them of our prayers, our support, anything the school can offer them, we are offering them,” he said.

“They are very close and they are in torment.

“They are a wonderful Christian family with tremendous ideals.”

Fr Rosling said Sofia’s murder was likely to change the fabric of the school.

“I don’t know if any good will come out of it, but I hope there will be,” he said.

“I hope it is a reminder to everyone that we need to appreciate each other as treasures, as precious, and only on loan.

“There are no answers to a thing like this, so it is a test of faith for all of us.”

Fr Rosling said no arrangements had yet been made for Sofia’s funeral.

It is believed many of her school friends will attend the funeral when it does take place, probably some time early next week.