Articles | Mourners bid farewell to Liberty

Mourners bid farewell to Liberty

A funeral service for murdered British teenager Liberty Templeman has taken place in New Zealand.

The 15-year-old, who was known as Libby, was found dead in the small town of Kerikeri in the far north of the country six days ago.

She had emigrated from Brightlingsea, Essex, with her parents Andrew and Rebecca and brother William, 12, in 2005.

The family moved south to Auckland two weeks ago and Liberty had returned to Kerikeri to visit friends when she went missing.

A public service took place at an arts and recreation centre on Cobham Road, near where the teenager's body was discovered.

Fifteen helium balloons, one for every year of her life, were released during the ceremony and her parents had asked people not to wear black.

According to local reports, her parents informed the public to "come with colour and come with a smile to a celebration of Libby's life".

The congregation included relatives from England.

Liberty's coffin was burnt orange, said to be her favourite colour, and was carried by six pallbearers chosen from close family friends.

A 14-year-old boy from Libby's former Kerikeri High School was charged with murder and indecently assaulting her. He has been remanded in custody.