Funeral for gunned-down NFL star

Sahel Kazemi (r) shot Steve McNair (l) as he dozed on the sofa

The pastor of ex-NFL star Steve McNair, who was gunned down by his mistress before she shot herself, told a funeral service no-one should judge him.

Bishop Joseph W Walker III told mourners: "He was just like us: imperfect. But he knew God."

McNair's wife, Mechelle, was among some 4,500 people who attended Thursday's ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sahel Kazemi, 20, shot the 36-year-old several times last Saturday as he dozed in a flat he was using as a love-nest.

Nashville police say jealousy drove Kazemi to shoot the former American footballer and then take her own life in a case that has gripped the US.

Kazemi had seen the star with another young woman in the days leading up to the tragedy, police say.

And she wrongly believed the footballer was about to divorce his wife of 12 years with whom he had four children.

CNN reports McNair had taken part in a youth suicide prevention public campaign shortly before his death.

"Air" McNair, who played in the National Football League for 13 years and was a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, retired last year.