On the final day of an inquest into their daughter's death, Sophia Crestani's parents ensured she was right there with them.
Bede Crestani was wearing his daughter's sneakers.
"They are very comfortable and it's a perfect fit for today," he said.
Elspeth McMillan was wearing Sophia's ring, and both of them were wearing necklaces with Sophia's fingerprint.
"She'll always be in our heart, there is no doubt in that, but it makes us feel even closer when we can have something tangible that we can touch and hold," McMillan said.
Sophia was 19 years old when she was crushed and suffocated to death in a pile-up at the bottom of a staircase at an overrun student party dubbed 'Maggot Fest'.
The October 2019 party was the last hurrah before a flat known as 'The Manor' was handed over to Otago University.
Around 400 people had been invited through a private Facebook event, the inquest heard many more people who didn't receive that invite also attended.
The inquest has heard from tenants of The Manor, as well as partygoers who described the pile-up.
"I was terrified and couldn't move...I thought I was going to die," one said.
"It was the worst night of my life by far."
Another said: "It was a mess of twisted bodies on the floor and all I could hear was screaming and yelling."
Most students told the inquest the party had a profound impact on them. They avoid big crowds and parties, the trauma still raw.
Emotions ran high on Friday as Sergeant Matt Sheat, who responded to the emergency, took the stand.
"En route it was updated with hundreds of people present, a stairway had collapsed, and several people being crushed," Sgt Sheat said.
The stairway hadn't collapsed, but someone had died.
Sophia's parents are not lawyers, but they have taken a leading role in the inquest, their grief evident throughout, and today when addressing police.
Becoming emotional Bede turned to Sgt Sheat and said: "Our thanks to your team, the response on the night was a difficult situation."
A situation now used to educate.
Inspector Ian Paulin said: "We don't want the memory of Sophia to diminish over time and any time we can bring that we will."
Bede thanked him as well, and said: "We had a cry because it was our daughter, but she's got a new job to do and we are very gratified that you are using her and hope she has a long life through that".
Under cross-examination, Insp Paulin described Dunedin student culture following the closure of student bars.
He was asked: "It almost sounds like these flats have become de facto night clubs", to which he answered, "essentially that's what they are, yes".
Suggesting if large venues are made available it may help reduce large flat parties and future fatalities.
Sophia's parents have advocated for safer student life ever since, setting up Sophia's Charter and creating scholarships in her honour.
In closing, Coroner Heather McKenzie addressed the couple.
"Elspeth and Bede, it would have been easy to feel helpless in the aftermath of Sophia's death in terms of what you could do in the face of such tragedy but even in the weeks following her death you looked towards the future."
McMillan said it was sad that Sophia had to be the "sacrificial lamb" to open everyone's eyes that change had to happen.
She always had a sense that Sophia had a purpose and "her light continues to shine bright" which she finds comfort in.
This coronial process hopes to answer questions while also starting conversations.
