Turquoise for Christie at campaign launch

Tracey (left) and Brian Marceau, the parents of teenager Christie Marceau. Picture / Sarah Ivey

The parents of murder victim Christie Marceau are asking New Zealanders to wear her favourite colour on Monday as they launch a campaign in her honour.

And Tracey and Brian Marceau have written a moving letter to thank everyone who reached out to them in the days after their younger daughter, their "princess", died.

Christie, 18, died in Mrs Marceau's arms at their North Shore home last November after a violent attack. Her grandmother Shirley was also home at the time and ran to get help.

A man has been charged with murdering Christie. He was on bail at the time, and facing a charge of kidnapping her just two months earlier.

Mr and Mrs Marceau have teamed up with the Sensible Sentencing Trust to launch Christie's Law - a campaign aimed at tightening bail laws. The launch will take place on Monday outside the High Court at Auckland.

Christie loved turquoise, and her family have asked people supporting the campaign to wear something in that colour to pay tribute to the teen.

"Even if they can't turn up for the launch, can they wear something turquoise on Monday to show support. Let's get the country in Christie's favourite colour," Mrs Marceau said.

"Please support the campaign for my beautiful child. She deserved better and was unjustly taken from us. Helps us make the change in Christie's name.

"Life is unbearable without her. New Zealand needs change so no other family has to suffer like we do every day."

A Christie's Law Facebook page has also been set up and her sister Heather has asked supporters to upload photos of themselves wearing turquoise. The page will be used to update supporters and is open for anyone to view.

More than 800 people had signalled they intended going to the launch by midday yesterday.

"I know we ask a lot but I am so desperate to make this a success for my angel. The law needs to change," Mrs Marceau said.

Heavy suppression orders prevent the Herald from publishing further details of the charge.

The man appeared briefly in the High Court at Auckland on Wednesday and was further remanded in custody until April. A tentative trial date in October has been set down.

A LETTER FROM THE MARCEAU FAMILY'S HEART

Tracey and Brian Marceau are campaigning for tighter bail laws. On November 7, 2011, the lives of our family were destroyed with the brutal loss of our beautiful younger daughter Christie.

The past four months have been arduous and painful and we have only been able to get through with the help of all who have supported us.

Christie touched many people's lives and we'd like to thank all those who came to farewell her. We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received from people who we do not even know. It is these people who are restoring our faith for the future.

Now as we try to put our lives back together, we would like to thank all those involved in the Christie's Law campaign. What an amazing, passionate group of people. No end of thanks seems enough and we find ourselves so humbled by your support.

It goes a long way to helping us recover but there still remains the fight to change the bail law so others can be spared our pain.

We do not believe we are being political by our actions, but parents who have lost and don't want to see further loss.

Our thanks to you all,

Brian, Tracey, Heather and Shirley.

STARTING POINT

The Christie's Law campaign will be launched outside the High Court at Auckland on Monday from 11.30am. Tracey and Brian Marceau are asking supporters to wear turquoise as a tribute to their murdered daughter.

Online www.christieslaw.co.nz

Donations to Christie's Law Trust at Westpac,
account number 03-0275-0644809-00