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Mother tells mourners of pain over prostitute's death

Dave Higgens,Press Association
Tuesday 10 August 2010 11:59 BST
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The mother of a prostitute who was murdered with a crossbow by an alleged serial killer told today of the unending "pain and loss" since her daughter's death.

Speaking at the funeral service for Suzanne Blamires, whose remains were found in the River Aire in Shipley, West Yorkshire, on May 25, her mother, Nicky, read a poem to the gathered mourners.

She told the congregation in Bradford's St Columba's Church: "We thought we understood heartache. It has landed on our door before.

"But the pain and loss at losing you, Suzanne, will live with us forever more.

"We are not gathered in a gloom-filled room, there are no heads bowed low.

"We are thinking about how much we love you, and how hard it is to let you go.

"You have taken the journey we all must take.

"But we take comfort as we know you are reunited with your much- loved dad and it is time to let you go."

Ms Blamires, 36, went missing from Bradford's red light district four days before her remains were discovered.

At the opening of the inquest into her death last month, Coroner Roger Whittaker said a post-mortem examination found the cause of her death to be serious injuries caused by a crossbow.

Criminology student Stephen Griffiths, 40, is charged with murdering Ms Blamires between May 20 and May 25.

He is also charged with the murder of two other women, Shelley Armitage, 31, and 43-year-old Susan Rushworth, who were also sex workers in the city.

Today, dozens of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Ms Blamires, who had hoped to train as a nurse.

Father Frank Smith told them: "Today is a day for Nicky and her family to find some peace and be allowed to grieve in private.

"As a parish we offer them our condolences, our prayers and our support in whatever way we can.

"To lose a child is one of the most difficult things anyone will have to deal with in their lives but through Faith and the support of friends and family, this will hopefully be made a little easier for Suzanne's family."

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