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| Murdered Karen 'ray of sunshine' | Murdered Karen 'ray of sunshine' |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The father of a Scottish backpacker murdered in New Zealand has described the family's devastation at the death of his "bubbly" daughter. | |
| Karen Aim, 26, died from her injuries after being attacked in the North Island town of Taupo on Thursday. | Karen Aim, 26, died from her injuries after being attacked in the North Island town of Taupo on Thursday. |
| Her father, Brian, 51, from Orkney, described his daughter as a "ray of sunshine" and said hearing news of her death felt like "watching a bad film". | Her father, Brian, 51, from Orkney, described his daughter as a "ray of sunshine" and said hearing news of her death felt like "watching a bad film". |
| The island's community has paid tribute to Miss Aim at a church service. | |
| State of shock | State of shock |
| A team of 50 police officers are investigating the "ghastly" attack on Miss Aim, which happened after a night out. | A team of 50 police officers are investigating the "ghastly" attack on Miss Aim, which happened after a night out. |
| CCTV images show her visiting a BP garage at around 0200 local time on Thursday, shortly after leaving a bar. | CCTV images show her visiting a BP garage at around 0200 local time on Thursday, shortly after leaving a bar. |
| She put a ray of sunshine into every room she came into Brian AimKaren Aim's father | She put a ray of sunshine into every room she came into Brian AimKaren Aim's father |
| She was discovered lying semi-conscious in the street half-an-hour later but died in hospital. | She was discovered lying semi-conscious in the street half-an-hour later but died in hospital. |
| Mr Aim, who works as a joiner in Holm on Orkney, said he and his family were still in a state of shock. | Mr Aim, who works as a joiner in Holm on Orkney, said he and his family were still in a state of shock. |
| "It's felt as though we're watching a bad film on the television and could we not change channels? But we're stuck on this channel for the rest of our lives. | "It's felt as though we're watching a bad film on the television and could we not change channels? But we're stuck on this channel for the rest of our lives. |
| "We just wish that we could change over, instead of this absolute nightmare that we're going through." | "We just wish that we could change over, instead of this absolute nightmare that we're going through." |
| 'Determined' | 'Determined' |
| Miss Aim was visiting New Zealand for the second time after a three-month stay in 2006 and had taken a job in a glass-blowing gallery before she died. | Miss Aim was visiting New Zealand for the second time after a three-month stay in 2006 and had taken a job in a glass-blowing gallery before she died. |
| "She absolutely landed on her feet. She was in her glory," Mr Aim said. | "She absolutely landed on her feet. She was in her glory," Mr Aim said. |
| Karen Aim was caught on CCTV before the attack | Karen Aim was caught on CCTV before the attack |
| He described his daughter as having a "strong" personality and said he had no worries about her travels. | He described his daughter as having a "strong" personality and said he had no worries about her travels. |
| "She was very determined and I would have done exactly the same thing." | "She was very determined and I would have done exactly the same thing." |
| Mr Aim, who also has a 23-year-old son, Alan, said the family felt they had been "blessed with the most marvellous children we could wish for". | Mr Aim, who also has a 23-year-old son, Alan, said the family felt they had been "blessed with the most marvellous children we could wish for". |
| His daughter, a graduate in printed textiles from Dundee University, was a "very bubbly, bright, cheerful character", he said. | His daughter, a graduate in printed textiles from Dundee University, was a "very bubbly, bright, cheerful character", he said. |
| "She put a ray of sunshine into every room she came into," Mr Aim added. | "She put a ray of sunshine into every room she came into," Mr Aim added. |
| Miss Aim had worked in a draper's shop in Kirkwall, Orkney, and did design work for Marks & Spencer before heading to New Zealand in 2006. | Miss Aim had worked in a draper's shop in Kirkwall, Orkney, and did design work for Marks & Spencer before heading to New Zealand in 2006. |
| If you have children and you lose a child in such a violent way it's just like your heart has been ripped out of you Reverend Miriam Gross | If you have children and you lose a child in such a violent way it's just like your heart has been ripped out of you Reverend Miriam Gross |
| She returned to save for a year-long trip to the country, which began on 21 October. | She returned to save for a year-long trip to the country, which began on 21 October. |
| Reverend Miriam Gross, of East Mainland Parish, who led the remembrance service on Orkney, said the community had been hit hard by the tragedy. | |
| "Everyone is speechless. If you have children and you lose a child in such a violent way it's just like your heart has been ripped out of you. | "Everyone is speechless. If you have children and you lose a child in such a violent way it's just like your heart has been ripped out of you. |
| "Karen's family are just in a state of shock. | "Karen's family are just in a state of shock. |
| "They are very respected in our congregation, they are just great people, and it's terrible that something like that could happen to them." | "They are very respected in our congregation, they are just great people, and it's terrible that something like that could happen to them." |
| A post-mortem examination confirmed that Miss Aim died of serious head injuries, which detectives believe were inflicted by a weapon. | A post-mortem examination confirmed that Miss Aim died of serious head injuries, which detectives believe were inflicted by a weapon. |