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A large crowd of friends and relatives of Augustine Borrell packed out an Otara church last night for a family service and Requiem Mass in memory of the slain teenager.
The 17-year-old was stabbed in the chest and killed at a party in Herne Bay last weekend.
An
18-year-old unemployed youth from Otahuhu appeared in court on Wednesday charged with murder. He was granted interim name suppression.
About 200 of Augustine's family, relatives and schoolmates crammed into the St John the Evangelist Church and hundreds more listened to the service from the carpark.
By the time Augustine's body arrived in a black hearse, which was followed by a procession of cars bearing flowers, pictures and members of his family, the gathering had swelled even more with some people standing on the footpath on Otara Rd.
"He was such a beautiful boy, look at him, he's so handsome," said a woman, fighting back tears.
Inside the church Auckland Grammar School acting headmaster Wayne Moore was among several mourners who paid tribute to the slain student.
Mr Moore described him as "always smiling, always positive and hugely popular with his peers".
"He was a real team player who always put others first, and his death has been devastating for his family, friends and the community.
"It's not one life that has been ruined but many; his circle of friends was considerable."
Others spoke of Augustine's easy-going nature, how he would say "random things to make people laugh and smile", and was a hit with the girls.
"We were skateboarding at the Mount [Maunganui] and he told me he was bored and wanted to meet some girls - sure enough he came back not long after with three girls," said a friend.
The funeral service for Augustine will be held today at St John's before his interment at the Mangere Lawn Cemetery.
Parents back daughters on party
The Morrisons have returned from the Rugby World Cup in France and are backing their daughters over the party that led to Augustine Borrell's death - although they refuse to say whether the girls had informed them it was on.
Jeffrey Morrison yesterday said the girls had been "deeply affected" by the death and he and wife Noeline intended to "spend some quiet time together as family". He said the adult supervision at the end-of-exams celebration - by a 20-year-old believed to be their elder daughter - was "appropriate". He did not comment when asked if they knew the party would be on.
The Morrisons cut short their trip after Augustine was killed on the street outside their $2.6 million home in Hamilton Rd, Herne Bay.