Tears for Meredith as parents lead 600 mourners at murdered student's funeral

Her brutal murder was still fresh in their minds.

But yesterday relatives and friends of Meredith Kercher were determined to find joy in their memories of her.

Sorrow was softened by smiles as, six weeks after she was taken from them, Meredith's family finally paid their final farewells to the student they remembered for her sense of humour and love of life.

As they entered Croydon Parish Church where a few years earlier the 21-year-old student had sung as a schoolgirl, mourners' faces were etched with grief.

But during the hour-long service the pews, packed with dozens of her fellow students from the University of Leeds, rang with laughter.

It was a fitting send-off for the girl they all knew as "Mez", who was murdered three months into a year-long exchange to the Italian town of Perugia.

It was there in her hillside home on November 1 that she was subjected to an appalling sexual ordeal before having her throat cut.

The hearse carrying her flowerladen coffin drew up at 11am.

Resting in the rear window was a large photo frame created from flowers.

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At the centre was a large image of a laughing Meredith.

Her sister Stephanie sobbed as she carried a single white rose into church, where she read a poem she wrote herself, Don't Say Goodbye.

Her brother John's voice cracked as he gave the first reading from Revelation Chapter 21, which includes the line: "To live now in the heart is to never die at all."

Her other brother Lyle delivered a Tribute to Meredith in which he said the service should be a celebration of his sister's life rather than one of only mourning.

Her parents, Arline and John, who are divorced, supported each other, Mr Kercher placing his arm round his sobbing ex-wife's shoulder as the coffin was carried out for a private burial service.

Canon Colin Boswell told mourners: "A life should not be judged on its length but on its quality and the love which surrounded it."

Hymns included For The Beauty Of The Earth and Abide With Me.

In Paradisum, by Jonathan Wilcocks, was sung by the choir from her former school, which stands next to the church. One of the student's favourite songs, With or Without You by U2, was played.

Three people are being held in connection with the murder.