Funeral held for murdered teenager

More than one thousand people have attended the funeral of a 16-year-old au pair whose murder made headlines around the country.

Lucie Trezzini left her family’s home by Lake Zurich to go shopping on March 4 and was later found dead in the apartment of 25-year-old Daniel H., who confessed to her murder.

All 600 seats were filled at the Christ-Roi church in Fribourg on Monday and hundreds more were standing for the service. Numerous young people and media were present, as well as parliamentarians Anne-Claude Demierre and Pascal Corminboeuf.

The coffin, adorned with a single white rose, was received by the bishop for Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, who in his address said the death had gained the compassion of the entire country and “raised very painful questions”.

Daniel H. had previously tried to kill another young woman in 2003 and spent four years in a rehabilitation centre. He is believed to have taken drugs before luring Trezzini to his flat, telling her he was looking for girls to model jewellery.

After the death there was public anger at why a man who was known to be dangerous under the influence of drugs and alcohol was free to commit such a crime.