Becky Watts funeral: relatives pay tribute to 'angel of Bristol'

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/17/becky-watts-funeral-bristol

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Hundreds of people gathered in Bristol for the funeral of Becky Watts, the 16-year-old girl whose disappearance triggered a huge police hunt.

Related: Becky Watts killing: four charged with helping dispose of body parts

As requested by her family, many wore T-shirts featuring a photograph of the teenager and threw pink roses towards the horse-drawn carriage that carried her white coffin.

Becky vanished from her home in the St George area of the city and her body parts were found 11 days later at an address two miles away. Her stepbrother, Nathan Matthews, has been charged with her murder.

Police revealed Becky died of suffocation. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We can confirm the post-mortem examination confirmed Becky Watts died as a result of suffocation.“We’re not able to go into any further details at this stage because of ongoing court proceedings.”

Two online fundraising efforts raised more than £11,000 to ensure that Becky received a fitting send-off and to help launch a charitable foundation in the girl’s name.

Rev David James read a tribute written by Becky’s father Darren Galsworthy that revealed she had been painfully shy as a primary school pupil and was bullied about her weight at secondary school.

Galsworthy wrote: “When Becky started school she was so shy that she wouldn’t let [her stepmother] Anjie leave her there on her own, so Anjie ended up being an unpaid teaching assistant for four years.”

Later she became a mentor for younger children. “That was Becky all over. She couldn’t make friends herself but didn’t want younger children to feel like she did.

“Secondary school was when our family went through very dark times. Becky was bullied about her weight and consequently we almost lost her to anorexia. But with a lot of care from us and hospital education we were able to get our Becky back.

“Gradually building up confidence, she started to go out more and more and became really fashion conscious, developing her own style and always looked immaculate. Becky loved music and animals and going to the cinema with her small group of friends.”

He added: “Becky has left a huge void in our lives and touched the hearts of the nation. We all loved you so much and as you look down from heaven just look at what your short life has achieved – not bad for a shy girl. You will forever be in our hearts and thoughts, rest in peace angel of Bristol.”

Related: Becky Watts: timeline of the 16-year-old's disappearance

Becky’s coffin was carried into St Ambrose church in Whitehall to Leona Lewis’s song Footprints in the Sand, and Newton Faulkner’s hit Dream Catch Me was also played during the service. Afterwards a white dove was released outside the church.

James said Becky had drawn the community together. “We hope that the family can take some comfort from the support and friendship shown by the community here. Despite her tender years she has brought the community together,” he said.

“This is only the start of a very deep journey for Becky’s family. They are obviously bewildered and bereft but they have also shown incredible bravery.”

Before the service, the teenager’s mother, Tanya Watts, paid tribute to a “caring, normal, happy, lovely girl”. She said: “You shouldn’t have to bury a child. There are a lot of people on this earth who don’t deserve to be here but Becky weren’t one of them. She should be here.”

The service was followed by a private interment attended by Becky’s family and friends at Avon View cemetery.

Becky vanished from her family home on 19 February. Police discovered her remains at a house in Barton Hill, Bristol.

Matthews faces a trial this year. His girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, is accused of perverting the court of justice. Jaydene Parsons, 23, James Ireland, 23, and Karl and Donovan Demetrius, both 29, are accused of helping dispose of and conceal Becky’s body parts.