KEY POINTS:
A celebration of the life of a bubbly woman, New Zealander Catherine Marlow who was murdered in London earlier this month, drew family and friends to a Hastings Church today.
About 300 people packed the Sacred Heart Church as tributes flowed to the slain former Hawke's Bay woman.
Ms Marlow's former boss Peter Hensman told NZPA it was a very positive service.
"I thought it was a great celebration of Cathy's life and concentrated on all that she had achieved.
"Such a positive and bubbly person, and that's what it focused on -- just the impact she had on so many people."
Ms Marlow's father, brother and sister spoke about her and her mother had written a poem that was read to the mourners.
Her cousin, who was also the church's priest said "some lovely words" about Ms Marlow, Mr Hensman said.
There was also a chance for people to offer tributes of their own.
"Quite a number of people got up and had things to say," Mr Hensman said.
Meanwhile police at Scotland Yard are continuing their investigation into her murder.
Ms Marlow, 28, was found dead at her South London office on Saturday January 13 and a post mortem examination established she died of asphyxiation.
Police said she was attacked between 1.36pm and 2pm as she was on her way out of the office building.
Her body was found by a work colleague, who called police and was later arrested but released without charge.
A second man has pleaded guilty to the theft of her credit card and was remanded in custody for sentence.
A third man arrested late last week was released on bail.
Detective Chief Inspector Damian Allain said police were now focusing investigations around an eyewitness report of an unkempt looking man seen dumping her handbag in a bin in South London on the afternoon of her killing.
The witness said the man's appearance was dishevelled and he appeared agitated and nervous.
Mr Allain said police were likely to have plenty of forensic evidence to examine resulting from the handbag and were buoyed by the eyewitness report of the person seen dumping it.
- NZPA
