THE entire North West is in shock, coming to grips after the horrific death of a young girl, with a teenager now in detention charged with her murder.
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The teenage girl from Gunnedah, who cannot be identified, made no application for bail in Tamworth Children's Court on Thursday, and it was formally refused.
She is accused of murdering the relative at the family farm on the edge of town on Wednesday morning.
Magistrate Mal MacPherson ordered the young person to remain in juvenile detention until the case returns to court in mid-September.
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Mr MacPherson suppressed key details of the case including the nature of the alleged victim's injuries, along with any information that tends to identify the families involved.
Police applied for the suppression orders in court as investigations by Strike Force Wilima - the operation by Oxley detectives probing the alleged murder - continued on Thursday.
The young girl's body was discovered just after 7am on Wednesday. Despite emergency efforts to revive her, she died at the scene. Police said she suffered significant injuries.
The farm remained a crime scene with officers standing guard on Thursday.
The horrific details of the case have shocked the Gunnedah community, mayor Jamie Chaffey said. He took aim at some media outlets for the "abhorrent reporting" of graphic details in the case.
"We are particularly disgusted in the approach in some of the media outlets, it's a devastating event for Gunnedah," he said.
"It's absolutely disgusting.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with families involved and the first responders at the scene. Our minds go to the rest of the residents in the shire that are deeply affected by what's happened and we do encourage people to seek support where its needed, and there are many ways to do that within the community."
Cr Chaffey said council was setting up support mechanisms for those who needed it, particularly some of the town's youth.
"We're asking now, through the media and the community, for respect and privacy for those involved," he said.
"We acknowledge the suppression orders that were announced in court and now the court process needs to be able to run its course.
"I've spoken to many leaders in the community and church groups and we're just encouraging them be there and available for any members of the community who need to talk."
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