Rebecca murdered after starting new life in Australia

Rebecca Louise Ryle, aged 19, was found strangled in the grounds of a primary school near her new home in Mindarie, a suburb of Perth.

Her heartbroken mother, Marie said: "We are absolutely devastated.

"We came here to start a new life. Her death has left a massive void in so many people's lives.

"Everyone loved Rebecca. She was always smiling. She was a very popular girl with her friends and teachers."

The teenager and her family moved out of Hardy Mill Road, Harwood, last November. Her parents Marie and Francis and her younger brothers Chris, aged 18, and eight-year-old Andrew are still in Australia.

Rebecca, a former pupil at Turton High School, had been studying for her A Levels in sociology, psychology and English Language at Bolton 6th Form College before leaving Bolton.

Mrs Ryle quit her job as a receptionist at a doctor's surgery in Little Lever and her husband left his job as a Power Station engineer.

The family first went to Mindarie three years ago on holiday to visit Mrs Ryle's brother who lived there. They fell in love with the area and decided on their return to emigrate. The small suburb boasts a fabulous beach and marina. It is popular with divers because of the five wrecks off shore, life coral reef and caves.

Rebecca began studying at Mindarie Senior College and worked part-time at a local supermarket after arriving in Australia.

Police say she was attacked last Wednesday after she left her Abbeyville Circle home for a night out at the Boat Tavern in the Mindarie Marina.

Bar manager Michael Shaw said many of the staff recognised the teenager but did not know her very well.

He said the bar attracted a strong local and family crowd of regular customers.

Mr Shaw said: "Most of my staff are quite young, For them, it's been a bit of a wake up call that this kind of thing can happen anywhere."

Major crime squad detective Sgt Peter De La Motte said that Rebecca left the bar with a man she had only met for the first time on the night of her death.

Security camera footage now being studied by police has shown Rebecca enjoying a drink with other customers and leaving the bar at around 11pm with a man.

Her semi-naked body was then discovered at 6.45am the next day near a portable classroom at Mindarie Primary School by a local resident walking his dog.

Today, her tearful mother added: "We are not coping very well.

"We are receiving a lot of support from the local people. The neighbours have been great and even people we don't know have been brilliant.

"Everyone who met Rebecca liked her.

"She was finishing her A Levels and was planning to take a year out before going to university.

"She wanted to be a nurse or go into childcare. She was very caring. She worked as a volunteer at Bolton hospice for 12 months before we left Bolton."

"We had settled very well here. Fran is working for the Royal Australian Navy, the boys were at school and Rebecca was at college.

"We have made lots of new friends and were all very happy here."

Relatives are planning to fly out to Australia this week for the funeral service and her parents are eventually planning to bring her ashes back to Bolton.

James Robert Duggan, a 19-year-old local man, has been arrested and charged in connection with her death. He was remanded in custody by a court last week and will reappear at Joondalup Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

'It's hard to believe she has gone, but I am sure she will remain in all our hearts'

SHOCKED friends of Rebecca paid tribute to her today. Her best friend Annika Short, aged 19, of Harwood, said: "I will never forget her. She was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on and offer advice.

"She never had a bad word to say to anyone and made sure people wouldn't leave her without a smile.

"It's hard to believe she has gone, but I am sure she will remain in all our hearts. She lived life to the full."

Another of her close friends, Natalie Owen, aged 18, of Hawthorn Road, Deane, said: "She was a lovely girl. Everybody knew Rebecca. She was very bubbly and outgoing.

"I had the awful task of telling everyone at college about what has happened.

"Everyone was shocked and upset. No one spoke all day. We just can't believe this has happened.

"The family went out to Perth to start a new life. You don't expect something like this to happen.

"She was due to come over in November to stay for a month. We couldn't wait to see her." In Australia, senior students at the Mindarie Senior College have been left very distressed by news of Rebecca's death.

College Principal Peter Holcz said: "Her death is very distressing, sad and tragic."

A counselling service has been set up for students and staff to help them cope with the tragedy. Roy Whittle, Principal of Bolton Sixth Form College said: "I have talked to staff who taught her and they are absolutely devastated. She was a lovely kid, a really nice student, very pleasant. We're utterly devastated by the news.

"She was just starting a new life and for this to happen is just unbelievable."

Tributes to girl who lived life to the full

SHOCKED friends of Rebecca have paid tribute to her . Her best friend Annika Short, aged 19, of Harwood, said: "I will never forget her. She was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on and offer advice.

"She never had a bad word to say to anyone but made sure people wouldn't leave her without a smile.

"It's hard to believe she has gone, but I am sure she will remain in all our hearts. She lived life to the full."

Another of her close friends Natalie Owen, aged 18, of Hawthorn Road, Deane, said: "She was a lovely girl. Everybody knew Rebecca. She was very bubbly and outgoing.

"I had the awful task of telling everyone at college about what has happened.

"Everyone was shocked and upset. No one spoke all day. We just can't believe this has happened.

"The family went out to Perth to start a new life. You don't expect something like this to happen.

"She was due to come over in November to stay for a month. We couldn't wait to see her." In Australia, the manager of the Boat Tavern, Michael Shaw said many of the staff recognised the teenager but did not know her very well.

He said the bar attracted a strong local and family crowd of regular customers.

Mr Shaw said: "Most of my staff are quite young, For them, it's been a bit of a wake up call that this kind of thing can happen anywhere."

Major crime squad detective Sgt Peter De La Motte said Miss Ryle left the bar with a man she had only met for the first time on the night of her death.

Senior students at the Mindarie Senior College have been left very distressed by news of Rebecca's death.

College Principal Peter Holcz said: "Her death is very distressing, sad and tragic."

A counselling service has been set up for students and staff to help them cope with the tragedy.

Roy Whittle, Principal of Bolton Sixth Form College said: "I have talked to staff who taught her and they are absolutely devastated. She was a lovely kid, really nice student, very pleasant, we're utterly devastated by the news.

"She was just starting a new life and for this to happen is just unbelievable."