FRIENDS and family of body in the boot victim Nicola West were today due to gather for the funeral of the woman they described as a “ray of sunshine”.Relatives of the 34-year-old had been waiting for more than two months for the coroner to release Miss West's body so that they could lay her to rest.

FRIENDS and family of body in the boot victim Nicola West were today due to gather for the funeral of the woman they described as a “ray of sunshine”.

Relatives of the 34-year-old had been waiting for more than two months for the coroner to release Miss West's body so that they could lay her to rest.

This morning they were due to gather for a private ceremony in Essex for the Ipswich charity worker's funeral.

Robert McCarry, 35, of Vernon Street, Ipswich and Paul Waters, 28, of Sandpiper Road Ipswich have been charged with Miss West's murder.

Her body was found in the boot of a car outside Ipswich police station on Saturday, February 10 and it is thought she may have been dead for up to two days.

Paying tribute to Miss West in the days following her death her family said the world had not deserved her.

In a statement they said: “She was the kindest most thoughtful person a ray of sunshine to us all.

“Her love and caring for others knew no bounds.

“She was a beloved fiancée, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.”

Police have investigated the possibility that Miss West may have been killed as part of a sex game.

It is believed she was killed in a car near to Suffolk Ski Centre in Wherstead.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died of strangulation.

However, further tests had to be conducted before her body could be released to her family.

Miss West, of Leather Bottle Hill, Little Blakenham, was working at a warehouse for St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich at the time of her death.

She grew up in Copford near Colchester and attended Stanway High School.

She later worked at Pizzaland in Colchester before transferring to the Ipswich branch of the restaurant.

McCarry and Waters are due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on June 15. They are yet to enter a plea.

Do you want to pay tribute to Miss West? Call The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788 or send an e-mail to starnews@eveningstar.co.uk.