Italian waiter Joele Leotta was laid to rest yesterday - almost two months after he was killed in a Maidstone flat.

Dozens of mourners gathered in the village of Nibionno, in the Lecco province of Italy, for the 20-year-old's funeral.

The basketball fan was fatally wounded in an alleged assault at a bedsit above Vesuvius restaurant, in Lower Stone Street.

Mr Leotta and his best friend Alex Galbiati had arrived in the UK just eight days before the fatal incident on Sunday, October 20, and were working at the Italian eatery.

Mr Galbiati, who was seriously injured, helped carry his friend's coffin at the service.

The waiter's body was only released by the Mid Kent and Medway coroner just over a week ago.

Villagers in his grieving community wrote tributes on banners and staged a torchlight procession.

Four Lithuanian men have been charged with murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr Leotta leaves behind parents Ivan and Patrizia, and younger brother Massimo.