Parents speak of loss (From Stroud News and Journal)

Parents speak of loss

THE parents of Jade Blundell, the Avening teenager stabbed to death in Tetbury last week have spoken of their sadness at losing their beautiful, fun-loving daughter.

In a statement issued on their behalf by Gloucestershire Police, Donna Blundell and Martin Smith said: "We cannot find the words to express how we feel about her. How much we loved her and how much she will be missed by us and so many other people - she touched so many.

"She had a lust for life. She wanted to laugh and get out and experience the world. She was a beautiful, bright and bubbly girl.

"She had a lot to look forward to and she was always making plans for the things she wanted to do.

"We spoke openly about lots and lots of things and we are now so glad we did.

"She was fun, beautiful and full of life. She was very exuberant, but in her quiet moments she was also calm and thoughtful.

"She was always trying to help people and if they had a problem she would do her best to help them out.

"She was a typical teenager - she loved shopping, music, buying new clothes and make up, and being with her friends.

"She also liked riding, she loved horses and being around them and she had adopted a pony from a rescue centre.

"She found everything and anything interesting and she looked for the fun in anything.

"She could be quiet like anyone else and very thoughtful. She was touched by things that were going on in the world.

"She was kind, beautiful and funny and we will miss her very much.

"We would just like to say thank you to everyone for their kind thoughts and support through this extremely difficult time."

AN inquest was opened and adjourned on Wednesday on Jade Charlotte Blundell, 17, of Sun Ground, Avening, who was found dead from fourteen stab wounds in the living room of her boyfriend Richard Parsons' home in St Mary's Road, Tetbury at 1am on Sunday.

Cotswold coroner Lester Maddrell was told that a post mortem conducted by Home Office pathologist Dr Andrew Davidson revealed death was due to one of the wounds to the thoracic artery.

The dead girl's body was formally identified by her mother Mrs Donna Blundell the coroner was told.

Richard Parsons, 21, appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates on Tuesday accused of her murder and was remanded in custody to Bristol Crown Court on August 20.

The stab wounds to Jade, who had been his girlfriend for eight months, were inflicted with a traditional Gurkha regimental knife.

The coroner adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.