MONTREAL - Marymount Academy held an emotional ceremony Wednesday to wish goodbye to Shirel Attar, a student who was stabbed to death last month and whose brother is now charged in her murder.

Shirel, 14, was set to enter into Grade 9 at the Cote. St. Luc High School this fall, but was found by her mother on Aug. 9, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Students dedicated a tree in Shirel's honour Wednesday, and as they grieved, relieved the pain of learning about her violent death.

Shirel's friends say they were stunned by the news.

"I was very shocked. I saw it in the paper and I couldn't believe it," said Marymount student Priscilla Guerra.

Shirel was remembered by her classmates as smart and caring.

"She was my bestest friend," said Destiny Hinkson, adding that Shirel helped her pass French last year.

"She made me pass the last term by pushing and teaching me more French."

Shirel was a kind teenager, said teacher Christina Almeida.

"I would hear the two of them walking by and practicing together in French," said Almeida.

Brutal attack

Shirel Attar's mother and sister arrived home around 6:30 p.m. to find Shirel bleeding from multiple stab wounds, and the girl was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency crews arrived.

Her brother, 18-year-old Maor Attar was found a short distance from the house several hours later suffering from wounds that police said at the time may have been self-inflicted.

The next day Attar was charged with murdering his sister.

Psychiatric evaluation

Defence attorney Daniel Lighter says his client hears voices, and had a letter from a psychiatrist saying he could not attend court this week. Lighter believes there is now evidence Attar may suffer from a serious mental illness.

The accused is currently medicated and under treatment, and could technically be found fit to stand trial, unless experts determine he was unstable when the crime was committed.

Prosecutor Helene di Salvo said the Crown will wait for a psychiatric evaluation before decided whether or not to send Attar to trial.