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Parents of murdered girl visit crime scene in New Zealand
Danny Brierley6 Nov 2008
THE grieving parents of a former Essex teenager who was killed in a seaside town in New Zealand have visited the site where their daughter was found dead.
Andrew and Rebecca Templeman, who emigrated from Britain for a better life three years ago, arrived with police and a family friend after asking to see the place where Liberty, 15, was discovered.
She is the first murder victim in the quiet, tight-knit coastal town for 20 years.
Police have still not revealed how she was killed or what the motive for the murder might have been.
The schoolgirl had been reported missing by her ex-boyfriend Connor Brough after she failed to meet him at the supermarket where he works.
Local police liaison officer Willie More said: "They wanted to see the scene before we make it public, before we pull out of here. This is where their daughter was - it's a bit of closure for them."Her schoolfriends left flowers.
The keen drama student had gone back to see friends two weeks after moving to Auckland with estate agent father Andrew, 47, mother Rebecca and brother Billy, 12.
Speaking from her home near Colchester, an aunt who did not want to be named said the family had become "fed up" with Britain and decided to emigrate.
She said: "They thought it would be a better life for them there, ironically. They got fed up with living here, they went out there in 2005 for a couple of weeks and decided they loved it and would move out there. They totally loved it out there, they absolutely loved it.
"Liberty wanted to be an actress or a singer or anything theatrical. She was in pantomimes when they lived in Brightlingsea.
"She was very fun and outgoing, a bubbly girl. I haven't seen her for three years but my mum has been out there twice and each time she said Libby has grown into an independent outgoing young woman."
Reader views (1)
i whent to the same school as libby she was a wonderful best friend she looked after me when i was being bullied she was a trusting brave freind and she will always be in my heart i miss her very much and i just want justice for my best friend
- Lauren Glozier Green, wivenhoe england, 12/02/2010 11:16
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