Hundreds of mourners came together at Castle Hill to grieve over tragic Shelley teenager Jane Khalaf.
The Hey Lane Cemetery was overwhelmed with more than 200 friends and relatives of 19-year-old Jane, who lost her life after collapsing following a night out in Cologne, Germany, to celebrate the city’s carnival.
United through their loss, all present believed that ‘angel’ Jane, who they said was vehemently anti-drugs, was the victim of a spiked drink.
A long procession of cars and a coach brought everyone to her graveside, where she was laid to rest.
Quiet Kurdish prayers filled the air, before Jane’s cousin, Jiyan Khalaf, broke into beautiful song and members of her family began to pay their respects.
The dozens of bouquets of flowers and candles piled up on top of her grave were testament to her popularity amongst those who had known her since she and her family, who are Kurdish refugees from Syria, moved to Huddersfield when she was seven.
And the Kurdish flag, which was draped at the back, emphasised the positive impact she left on the whole Kurdish community, for whom she was an outspoken advocate.
Talking at a memorial ceremony after the burial, at St Patrick’s Centre in Trinity Street, one of her close family friends and chef at her family’s town centre Med One restaurant, Sleman Shwaish, said: “She was almost family to me and none of us can still believe what happened to her”.
Meanwhile, her mother, Rojin Khalaf, thanked everyone for their support.
She and her family now face an agonising wait to see if German authorities, who are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, can find any evidence that anyone was responsible for spiking her drink.
They are also calling for the hospital in which she was treated, St Marien, to be scrutinised for their treatment of her before her fatal collapse.
Rojin, said: “We are so appreciative of all the support and wonderful comments about Jane.
“Now we have to hope that some justice is brought to her.”
