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Memorial for head-on-beach victim | |
(1 day later) | |
A memorial service has been held for the Lithuanian woman whose head and hands were found on Arbroath beach. | |
About 200 people attended the ceremony in honour of Jolanta Bledaite, 35, on the same beach where her head was found in a plastic bag by two young sisters. | |
The Vygaueas Usackas, the Lithuanian ambassador, joined mourners. | |
Two men, also from Lithuania, have been charged with murdering Ms Bledaite, who had been staying in Brechin as a migrant worker. | Two men, also from Lithuania, have been charged with murdering Ms Bledaite, who had been staying in Brechin as a migrant worker. |
The service took the form of a Roman Catholic mass, conducted by the Reverend Kevin Golden, priest of St Thomas RC church in Dishlandtown Street, Arbroath. | |
It is hard to imagine how such a thing could have happened in this wonderful place Vygaueas UsackasLithuanian ambassador | |
Mourners gathered around a small table on which sat a framed black and white photograph of Ms Bledaite, a crucifix and a collection of pebbles from her grandmother's garden in Lithuania. The pebbles were later blessed and scattered on the beach. | |
Mr Usackas said: "I wanted to attend today to extend my warmest thanks on behalf of all the people of Lithuania for the sympathy and moral and financial support received. | |
"It is hard to imagine how such a thing could have happened in this wonderful place. | |
"I met with the family in Lithuania just yesterday and they are as moved as I am about what people have done here in Arbroath." | |
Ms Bledaite's head was found by two young sisters playing on the beach on 1 April. | Ms Bledaite's head was found by two young sisters playing on the beach on 1 April. |
Police searching the shoreline then found her hands. | Police searching the shoreline then found her hands. |
Pay respects | |
On 5 April, a suitcase containing her body parts was pulled from Arbroath harbour. | |
Local woman Sue Smith, who works with migrants in the area, organised the memorial. | |
She said: "It was a lovely service and I am just so happy that everyone turned up." | |
Vaidas Dieninis, 28, who is from Lithuania and currently working in Arbroath, did not know Ms Bledaite put wanted to pay respects. | |
He said: "It was a very, very good service and I really appreciate that it was done." | |
Jean Dear, 70, from Arbroath, said: "What's happened has just left everybody shattered but I hope something like this will turn everyone around for the good." | |
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