19-year-old Aya Hachem was just on her way to buy groceries at a local market when shots fired from a passing car took her life on May 17th.
The innocent law student took a bullet to the chest in a nasty drive-by shooting in Blackburn, Lancashire; the bullet was not even targeting her, according to Preston Magistrates’ Court, who has charged five people for both the heinous murder and attempted murder.
Being Lebanese born, Aya was brought to her hometown of Qleileh in Tyre to receive a proper burial in the eyes of her family and loved ones.
“We received a lot of solidarity from Arab communities,” Aya’s father Ismail Hachem told The Daily Star. Even the Ambassador of Lebanon to the UK Rami Mortada was a huge support to the family.
In an emotional state, Aya’s mother, Samar, told The Daily Star, “I couldn’t have imagined that my daughter, who was supposed to return [to Lebanon] with a graduation gown from law school, would return in a coffin.”
“I saw in Aya the embodiment of my dreams and wishes,” Ismail said to Arab News on the day of her burial. “She was an ambitious and passionate girl, focusing on her studies.”
He said that he always envisioned that she would one day become Britain’s Prime Minister.
Hopefully, there will be justice for Aya, as thirteen people have been detained over her murder. Five of them have been lawfully charged, and two others remain in custody.
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