Funeral held for murdered Katherine

Published on 17/01/2006 13:54

THE funeral service for murdered British backpacker Katherine Horton was due to take place today.

Family and friends were set to gather at St Isan's Church, Llanishen, Cardiff, south Wales, to bid the Reading University psychology student a final farewell.

Katherine, 21, was visiting Thailand with a friend on a two-week backpacking trip before heading back to Reading for her final year as an undergraduate.

But on New Year's Day, just days after arriving on the idyllic island of Koh Samui, she was raped and murdered by two drunken Thai fisherman.

In Cardiff today police were expecting large numbers of mourners at the funeral service, which was expected to be followed by a private cremation.

A service of prayer has already taken place at Reading University, attended by friends, students and staff.

Bualoi Posit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, confessed to murdering Katherine within a day of their arrest by Thai police investigating the killing, and their trial began last week.

The case has been adjourned until tomorrow for sentencing.