EXCLUSIVE

by Gerry Warren

The grief-stricken family of a young Canterbury man who was murdered in Spain have vowed to get justice for him.

Tom Bedding, 23, who was living with his mother Lisa near Malaga, suffered a fatal head injury in what local police believe was an attack.

The "happy-go-lucky" former St Anselm's student moved to the small inland town of Coin a year ago to join her and his sister Perdy, 14.

He was discovered severely injured late at night under a motorway bridge near his home and taken to hospital but never regained conciousness.

His mother agreed to him being an organ donor but, remarkably, his body was cremated just four days later despite police concluding he had been killed.

Now Mrs Bedding is planning to bring his ashes home for a memorial service for family and friends at Chilham Church at 3pm on Sunday, October 24.

He has an extended family all over the Canterbury area including his brother Casey, 21 who lives at Boughton, grandparents, Brenda and Terry from Old Wives Lees and his aunt, Kelly Bedding from Chartham.

She said: "Six weeks after it happened and we are all still in a state of shock. I don't think we will ever get over it.

"Tom was just a lovely lad who was very caring and had a happy-go-lucky outlook on life.

"There wasn't a bad bone in his body and we are just devasted this has happened to him.

"His mum is still out in Spain where she has lived for the last four years and is obviously struggling to cope because they were very close.

"She adored him and he her and he was enjoying his new life in Spain."

Miss Bedding, a finance manager who lives in Shalmsford Street, added: "We wish now that he hadn't been cremated and we could have brought him back home but the Spanish authorities insisted that was the way.

"The police say he didn't fall from the bridge but we haven't been allowed to see the autopsy report.

"We have all been in such a state of shock that it has been difficult to focus on anything but the fact that we have lost him.

"We will never understand why someone would want to hurt him.

"But we won't let it go and I shall be in touch with the British Embassy and the Spanish authorities to fight for justice for Tom because someone is responsible for his death.

"It's a torment because we don't known why it happened or who did it and we won't rest until we do."

Tom grew up in Bekesbourne and attended Adisham primary school while his mother worked as a housekeeper for Lady Aspinall.

After leaving St Anselm's School he moved to Winchester for several years to do a business degree but dropped out and returned to the Canterbury area where he did a number of jobs including working with his aunt Shani Barrett at the Star Inn at Old Wives Lees.

The family say they want his memorial service in Chilham to be a celebration of his life and all his old friends are invited. It will be followed by a wake at the George pub in Chartham.

His ashes will then be scattered in his grandparents' garden at Old Wives Lees who is was very close to and often stayed with.

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