Burial for head-on-beach victim

Jolanta Bledaite's body can now be returned to Lithuania

The body of a woman whose head and hands were found on a beach in Arbroath has been released for burial almost three months after her death.

The Crown Office confirmed Jolanta Bledaite's remains had been released. It is now planned to return her to her home country of Lithuania.

Thousands of pounds were raised by people in Brechin, where she had been living, to pay for a funeral.

Two Lithuanian men have been charged with Ms Bledaite's murder.

Ms Bledaite's head was found in a plastic bag on the beach at Arbroath by two young sisters on 1 April. Police then discovered her hands.

Later a suitcase containing body parts was pulled from Arbroath harbour.

A fund was set up to raise money for Ms Bledaite's funeral and a memorial service was attended by about 200 people.

Angus Council leader Bob Myles was one of those who established the Jolanta Fund.

He said: "I'm very pleased that at last we're going to get closure on the whole event.

It's been a very long wait for them because they've not been able to put her to rest and because they've been so far away from where it's happened Sue Smith

"We feel that it's dragged on for a long time for the family and until they get closure in this respect they can hardly move forward.

"Obviously it was a very very tragic event, but the way that the Scottish people, the Angus people, and British people rallied round to show their support has been very comforting for the family themselves."

Sue Smith, who works with migrant workers in Arbroath, is helping to arrange the funeral.

She said: "It's been a very long wait for them [the family], because they've not been able to put her to rest and because they've been so far away from where it's happened.

"When they finally get her body home and lay her to rest next to her great grandmother and they can take flowers and things to the grave, I think then they'll understand."

Ms Bledaite's body is expected to be returned to Lithuania next week.