A CHURCH tower is to be lit up in memory of a 15-year-old murder victim.

Liberty Rose Templeman, known as Libby, had emigrated to New Zealand with her family in 2005.

Her body was found on the bank of the Wairoa Stream, on Sunday, November 2, last year. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered.

Memorial services have taken place in New Zealand to mark the first anniversary of her death.

Libby’s dad, Andy Templeman, said a second service is planned at All Saints Church, Brightlingsea, on Sunday, for her family and former Colne School friends.

Her maternal grandmother, Monica Hempstead, is planning to have the church tower lit up – hopefully in orange – in her memory.

Andy, wife Rebecca, and Libby’s brother Billy joined friends and family at a bridge over the stream last weekend, to mark one year since her death.

Her mum read a moving poem, while ribbons and flowers in Libby’s favourite colour, burnt orange, were tied to the bridge and a driftpole nearby.

Mrs Templeman has also paid tribute to her only daughter on a special page set up on memorial website, Gone Too Soon.

It reads: “We are heartbroken, not only for what we as a family are now enduring, but for the brutal killing, pain and indignity that was inflicted upon our daughter. I cannot forgive.”

The Templeman family had first moved to Kerikeri, near the northern tip of the country, but had moved to Auckland just two weeks before her death.

Libby had returned to Kerikeri on that fateful weekend to meet up with friends, and was last seen at 7pm on the Saturday.

A huge manhunt was launched for the teenager involving classmates, family and friends. Her body was found the following day.

l A 15-year-old boy is due to appear in court in New Zealand, on November 30.