A CANDLELIT vigil has taken place to remember three women believed to have been murdered.
Former Huddersfield prostitute Shelley Armitage, and vice girls Suzanne Blamires and Susan Rushworth are all believed to have become victims.
Mature student Stephen Griffiths, 40, has been charged with their murders.
The event in Centenary Square, Bradford, was also held to remember other sex workers who have been abused.
Organisers said they wanted the women to be given “some dignity”.
Former prostitute Fiona, who helped organise the vigil, said: “There’s many, many, many women, whether they've been directly involved in prostitution or not, that feel very strongly that we need to recognise these women.
“We need to celebrate their lives and think about other women that are still entrenched in that world.
“We do separate different parts of our society, our community, into deserving and non-deserving for various reasons. We have to recognise these women are somebody’s daughter, somebody’s mum, somebody’s sister, they are part of our community.”
Jane Gregory of Bradford Rape Crisis said: “A lot of women got in touch and wanted to express their deepest respect and sorrow for the women.
“We have gathered today as women from lots of different communities in Bradford to show that we care.”
Griffiths, who was studying criminology at Bradford University, appeared at the city's crown court on May 28 accused of murdering Ms Blamires, 36, Ms Rushworth, 43, and Ms Armitage, 31.
While police have so far found no trace of Ms Rushworth, who disappeared in June 2009, body parts belonging to the other two women have been found in the River Aire in Bradford.
