A Mississauga school flew its flag at half-mast to honour the memory of a student and teenaged murder victim as medical examiners performed an autopsy on her body.

But at Green Glade senior public school, the focus is on helping Alexandra Firgin-Hewie's friends and fellow student cope. For example, a memorial has been set up in the school's library.

"We're spending the entire day helping the staff and the students cope with this very sad situation," an official told reporters.

"She was really nice. She had lots of friends. Everybody liked her," classmate Danika Sutherland told CTV Toronto.

On Scugog Island where the victim grew up, Firgin-Hewie's emotionally devastated uncle told CTV Toronto that his late niece enjoyed activities such as rollerblading in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter.

"Great kid. Spunky, really neat kid. Involved in the school a lot, gave a lot to our school," said Al Drennan, principal at S.A. Cawker public school in Port Perry.

Police keep wrap on info

When the autopsy is completed, the results won't be made public, Const. Samantha Nulle of Peel Regional Police told ctvtoronto.ca on Friday.

"Because in this particular investigation, there are very few people who know exactly what happened, so it's going to be evidentiary in nature, something we'll have to bring to court. So investigators are withholding that information pending the court process."

Firgin-Hewie, 13, had only moved to Mississauga a few months before her untimely death early Thursday.

She was found outside a home at 1862 Bonnymede Dr. after someone placed a 911 call at 1:20 a.m. Peel police made arrests shortly after that call then announced Thursday afternoon that two people had been charged with first-degree murder.

Nulle agreed the implication of a first-degree murder charge is that there is some evidence of planning and deliberation.

First-degree murder charges can also be laid if someone is murdered in the course of a sexual assault or kidnapping.

"I obviously won't be able to comment on that part of the investigation nor do I have any information about that. That would be something that's evidentiary in nature and reserved for the court process," Nulle said.

One of the two suspects lived at the home. Police have said Firgin-Hewie had a friendship of sorts with the two accused, who were young adults.

The teen lived not far away in a basement suite with her father.

Neighbours professed shock when they heard Alexandra was the victim. They described her as a quiet, lovely girl.

"What a sad situation for such a young girl who had such a great future ahead of her," said Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion.

The victim's family say that funeral arrangements haven't been finalized.

Police have charged Rafael Lasota, 25, and Michelle Liard, 19, of Mississauga with first-degree murder. They made court appearances Thursday afternoon, are being held in custody and have video-link court appearances scheduled for next week.

With a report from CTV Toronto's James MacDonald