Mourners gathered in West Kelowna on Saturday to pay tribute to Ashlee Hyatt, the 16-year-old girl who was stabbed to death earlier this month.
Hyatt was killed outside a teenage drinking party in Peachland on June 2. The accused killer is a classmate of Hyatts, whose identity is protected because of her age. She was granted bail on Tuesday after being charged with first-degree murder.
At the Emmanuel Assembly, Hyatt's friends and teachers gathered to share their heartache and celebrate a life that ended much too soon.
"It's hard to see our kids in so much pain," Hyatt's English teacher Kayla Dominelli said. "She was a great kid. Beautiful heart, beautiful smile."
She was remembered as a happy, outgoing girl who was a confidante for many of her classmates.
"She should be remembered in the best way possible," said Hyatt's friend Evan. "She was a great person and a close friend and we all love her."
The loss has also stirred up anger and bitterness in the community. At the accused's bail hearing, more than 100 people packed the courtroom, some protesting the decision to grant her bail.
Hyatt's mother Charrie broke into tears, saying the accused's parents are very lucky. "They get to get up in the morning and kiss her. We don't get to kiss our daughter," she said.
The accused is scheduled to be back in court in two weeks to fix a trial date.
Under court imposed conditions, she is prohibited from using Facebook and other social-networking sites, consuming drugs or alcohol. She must also stay away from an area high school and 19 people considered witnesses in the case.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Norma Reid
