Grieving friends and family of a woman found dead at her Kingston home gathered to pay their last respects at her funeral.

Che Cruz, a Filipino carer, suffered fatal head injuries in her house in Cambridge Road on Monday, September 26.

Miss Cruz’s partner Muhammed Asad Niazi, 29, is due to appear at the Old Bailey in January charged with her murder.

Her family and daughter could not say goodbye in person at Kingston Crematorium on Thursday, November 10.

But her brother Roberto and his family watched from Australia via an iPhone held up in the packed chapel connected to their web camera.

Friend Abigail Pickering said: “Che, it’s hard to say goodbye knowing we won’t see your smiling face anymore. We are so lucky to have known you as our sister.

“We don’t want to let you go but in our hearts you will always be there. We are blessed we knew you.”

Friar Norlan said: “We know very well the circumstances of the passing of Che. Che was a gift to her family but also a gift to the entire family of Kingston and Chessington. She was a gift to all of us.”

White balloons were released at the end of the ceremony outside Kingston crematorium to celebrate her life.

Mrs Pickering said: “We were far too upset but we couldn’t do anything about it anymore. We want her to rest in peace."