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Murdered Alice Gross's funeral takes place | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The funeral for murdered schoolgirl Alice Gross has taken place in west London. | |
The 14-year-old went missing from her Hanwell home on 28 August. Her body was found hidden in the River Brent on 30 September. | The 14-year-old went missing from her Hanwell home on 28 August. Her body was found hidden in the River Brent on 30 September. |
A funeral procession passed through the town centre ahead of the service. | |
In a statement, Alice Gross' family said they were devastated by her death but they wanted her funeral to "focus on the joy of Alice's life". | |
The statement said: "Alice was so spirited, so present, so vital and so full of promise. | |
"We find it almost impossible to understand what has happened and that we have to say goodbye to her. | |
"We want Alice's funeral to focus on the joy of Alice's life and the joy of having known her." | |
Scotland Yard said the hunt for Alice was its biggest search operation since the July 7 bombings. The prime suspect was found hanged on 4 October. | Scotland Yard said the hunt for Alice was its biggest search operation since the July 7 bombings. The prime suspect was found hanged on 4 October. |
'Love of nature' | |
In Hanwell, candles and flowers have been placed around the clock tower in tribute to the schoolgirl. | In Hanwell, candles and flowers have been placed around the clock tower in tribute to the schoolgirl. |
Traffic came to a standstill and locals came out to pay their respects as cortege went past. | |
The teenager's coffin was decorated with patterns which depicted a meadow scene painted by her grandmother and a family friend because Alice loved nature, the family said. | |
The family said the funeral service was a humanist ceremony "full of music " and featured videos of Alice playing and singing songs she wrote herself. | |
There were tributes from her teachers, parents and sister and the congregation sang "You are my Sunshine". | |
The family thanked members of the public for their support. | |
A public memorial ceremony will be held for Alice on 2 November at Greenford Town Hall. | |
A tributes page was also set up with money to be donated to the National Foundation for Youth Music in Alice's memory, as she was a keen musician. | |
The charity said it was "honoured and grateful" to be chosen by the Gross family. | |
Prime suspect Arnis Zalkalns' body was found in Boston Manor Park. | |
The Latvian national was reported missing from his Ealing home on 3 September. | The Latvian national was reported missing from his Ealing home on 3 September. |
It is believed Mr Zalkalns came to the UK in 2007, but authorities here are thought to have had no record of his murder conviction and seven-year prison sentence for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife. | It is believed Mr Zalkalns came to the UK in 2007, but authorities here are thought to have had no record of his murder conviction and seven-year prison sentence for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife. |
A review of how the case was handled is being carried out by Scotland Yard. | |
Inquests into both deaths have been opened and adjourned, as investigations in the case continue. | Inquests into both deaths have been opened and adjourned, as investigations in the case continue. |