Murdered backpacker is buried

Mourners arriving for Kirsty Jones' funeral near Brecon

More than eight hundred mourners from across Britain have attended the funeral of Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones who was murdered in Thailand.

St Bilo's Church, Llanfilo in Powys - three miles from the Tredomen farm where she grew up - was packed, while hundreds more stood in silent contemplation in the tiny churchyard.

The 23-year-old was found raped and strangled at a hostel in Chiang Mai in Thailand on August 10.

Two of her university friends, Olivia Scholtz and Georgina Baird, led the tributes to her during the hour long service.

Olivia said that Kirsty had many friends and was alwasy the one organising parties and smiling.

Kirsty's father, Glyn Jones, arrives at the church

She spoke of Kirsty's vibrancy and energy.

"We would watch her go out jogging on freezing November mornings while we were watching Richard and Judy, she said.

Olivia and Georgina said Kirsty would continue to be an inspiration to them.

The Reverend Canon Dr Peter Dixon told Kirsty's parents Glyn and Sue Jones that they had shown great courage.

"I know Kirsty was and still is so proud of you."

"We all want long lives, but just as important is the quality of life, and Kirsty did in her 23 years what most of us have done in 93 years."

Among the mourners were Ken and Yvonne Morris whose 28-year-old daughter Natalie died in a hostel fire while backpacking in Australia in June.

Meanwhile, the police investigation into Ms Jones's murder continues with one suspect still being held in custody.

An inquest in Brecon recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Ms Jones on Monday.

The body was found in this guest house

The hearing was told that her body had lain undiscovered on the floor of the Aree Guesthouse in Chiang Mai for almost 15 hours.

She had been raped and strangled, shortly after returning to the hostel at around midnight on 10 August.

The graduate had loved travelling and was three months into a two-year round-the-world trip.

Thai police have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the inquiry, and the chief investigator hunting the killer was removed from the case for a lack of progress.

At the beginning of the inquiry two weeks ago, 12 suspects were questioned.

Rickshaw

DNA tests have since cleared five foreign nationals including two Britons, and a third with dual British and Australian nationality.

Two Thai men, including a rickshaw driver and a tour guide, have also been ruled out of the investigation.

The inquiry is now focusing on the 47-year-old manager of the Aree Guesthouse, Surin Chanpranet.

He remains in custody while police await the results of a second set of blood and DNA tests.

The first tests proved inconclusive.