Funeral held for 'murdered' ex-marine Carl Davies

The funeral of a former Royal Marine found dead in a suspected murder on a Indian Ocean island has been held in Kent.

Carl Davies, 33, a former teacher from Kent, was discovered at the bottom of a ravine in Reunion Island on 9 November.

It was initially believed to have been an accident but a murder investigation has been started.

His funeral in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, attracted hundreds of mourners.

Carl Davies is believed to have arrived at Reunion Island on 7 November

Mr Davies used to work at the Isle of Sheppey Academy until August, before taking a job as a security contractor on the island two days before he died.

His father Andrew has previously complained of a "lack of co-operation" from the island's authorities.

A post-mortem test revealed Mr Davies, from Maidstone, had been beaten and possibly sexually assaulted.

It is estimated about 600 people attended his funeral in the Garden of England Crematorium.

One of the attendees, former pupil Lewis King, said Mr Davies had been held in high regard.

He said: "It showed today that there were a lot of people that cared for him.

"He was our teacher but we came to see him more as a mate."

It is believed Mr Davies arrived on the French governed island on 7 November.

His body was discovered two days later and a murder investigation started on 19 November.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing consular assistance to his family.