Tearful mourners march through streets of Essex for funeral of traveller Quhey Saunders, 20, who was beaten to death with a shovel at M25 services
The youngster was battered to death in front of his horrified parents at Cobham Services, Surrey, in June
TEARFUL mourners today made their way through the streets of Essex for the funeral of a 20-year-old traveller beaten to death at an M25 service station.
Quhey Saunders was tragically battered to death in front of his horrified parents at Cobham Services, Surrey, in June.
Today dozens took part in the funeral procession in Standord-le-Hope, Essex, as his body was taken to a nearby cemetery by horse and cart.
Mourners, mostly dressed in black, followed the young man's coffin after a service at a local Catholic church.
A number of silver Rolls-Royce drove behind the procession as many people paid their respects to the popular man.
Six white horses carried his coffin in the hearse - which had a large red floral heart on top of it.
Behind the heart was a large blue and white floral display, as a large red and white wreath on the back of a pick-up truck said "the heart of our family".
It comes just over a month after two men - Mikey Joseph Coyle, 21, and Simon Daniel Baker, 22 - were charged with his murder.
Police were scrambled to the service station after reports of a fight between two groups.
By the time they arrived, two men are believed to have left the scene in a white van and Quhey, believed to be a member of the traveller community, was fighting for his life.
The young man was flown by air ambulance to hospital but died a few days later.
Paying tribute to him after his death, his family said: "Quhey was a very kind hearted boy, always full of laughter, loved life and loved enjoyment. He was very respectful to his elders and the sick.
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"He was always laughing, always happy and loved every day of life. He lived life to the full and his life was taken very young. "He had his whole life in front of him and was taken for no reason at all."
His mother later said his heart was donated to someone in need and thanked all the staff at St George's Hospital in London.
Following the news of his death, childhood sweetheart Larosa Smith posted an emotional tribute on social media.
She wrote on Facebook: "He wasn’t just my boyfriend he was my best friend my full life I’m so lost without him."
Pouring her heart out to pals, she added: "R.I.P my baby I have no words to describe the way I feel right now.
";I thought you’d broke my heart in the past but this is what a broken heart feels like."
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