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Mansion arson pair's funeral held Mansion arson pair's funeral held
(40 minutes later)
The funeral of two members of a family killed in an arson attack at home in Shropshire has been taking place. A woman and his daughter who were murdered before their family mansion was set alight have been buried.
Christopher Foster, 50, is believed to have killed wife Jill, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, before setting fire to the £1.2m home in Maesbrook in August. Christopher Foster, 50, killed wife Jill, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, before setting fire to the £1.2m home in Maesbrook, Shropshire, in August.
About 100 mourners attended the mother and daughter's funeral. The father's funeral is due to be held at 1430 GMT in St John's Church, Maesbrook. About 100 mourners turned out for Mrs Foster and Kirstie's funeral. A separate service for Mr Foster was being held later.
Relatives have asked for Jill and Kirstie to be buried beside Mr Foster. Mrs Foster and Kirstie were to be buried beside Mr Foster.
All three funerals were being held at St John's Church, Maesbrook.
'Extreme difficulty''Extreme difficulty'
The deceased's family made the decision to bury all three on the same day in adjoining plots, the Diocese of Lichfield said. The Fosters' family made the decision to bury all three on the same day in adjoining plots, the Diocese of Lichfield said.
The two coffins of the mother and daughter, each adorned with pink floral arrangements, were wheeled into the church followed by the congregation. The two coffins of the mother and daughter, each adorned with pink floral arrangements, were taken into the church followed by the congregation.
The service was led by the Venerable Tony Sadler, formerly the Archdeacon of Walsall, who said: "No-one could have predicted that such a tragedy as this could happen in the depth of this beautiful Shropshire countryside." The Venerable Tony Sadler, who led the service, said "no-one could have predicted such a tragedy as this could happen in the depth of this beautiful Shropshire countryside."
All three will be buried at St John's Church in Maesbrook All three were due to be buried at St John's Church in Maesbrook
He went on to speak of how much Jill and Kirstie had loved living in Maesbrook, after moving to the rural village four years ago. He went on to describe how much Jill and Kirstie had loved living in Maesbrook, after moving to the village four years ago.
Kirstie was a "popular girl", he said, who loved horses and had her heart set on studying at the Equestrian College at Gloucester University.Kirstie was a "popular girl", he said, who loved horses and had her heart set on studying at the Equestrian College at Gloucester University.
Referring to the brutal way their lives were ended, he added: "The sadness of these latest events must not diminish the happiness of their earlier lives together." He added: "The sadness of these latest events must not diminish the happiness of their earlier lives together."
He added: "Part of the pain is caused by our realising that young lives have been cut short before their time. The priest said: "As Christians we are required to forgive - but for many at the moment, that is a step too far - the wounds are too raw.
"More so, I believe the hurt comes as a result of our extreme difficulty in finding forgiveness in our hearts for what has happened." "Even if we spoke words of forgiveness with our lips, they would be shallow and meaningless."
Many people stood in the churchyard listening to the service on a loudspeaker system. He added: "True forgiveness cannot be rushed.
"Living with unforgiveness may be the honest thing to do for the moment."
Charity trust
Mr Foster's mother Enid, 78, and his brother Andrew were among mourners who gathered at the church for the first funeral.
Many other people stood in the churchyard listening to the service on a loudspeaker system.
The congregation heard that Mrs Foster's family had plans to set up a charity trust in Kirstie's memory called the Kirstie Foster Trust to Assist Riding for the Disabled.
After the fire police recovered CCTV footage from the remains of Osbaston House which showed a man strongly believed to be Mr Foster firing a rifle at a horsebox as the family home and its outbuildings burned early on 26 August.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Foster's wife was shot in the head.A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Foster's wife was shot in the head.
It has not been determined how Kirstie and her father died. Police have so far not been able to determine how Kirstie and her father died although they said they were not looking for anyone else over the deaths.
An inquest into the family's deaths has been opened and adjourned.An inquest into the family's deaths has been opened and adjourned.
CCTV footage recovered from the mansion showed Mr Foster carrying a gun through the burning buildings.
Police said they were not looking for anyone else over the deaths.