Hundreds gather to remember mum and daughters killed in Great Denham home in moving service

Hundreds gather to remember mum and daughters killed in Great Denham home in moving service Heartfelt tributes were paid to a mum and her two daughters as nearly 500 mourners gathered to remember them following their tragic deaths earlier this month Hundreds of people gathered to remember a mum and her two daughters found dead at home in a moving service. A heartfelt memorial service for Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42 and her daughters, Natalie, 15 and Nala, 5, at Bedford's Corn Exchange following their tragic deaths earlier this month was attended by nearly 500 mourners. An inquest, which opened on Tuesday, heard Zandile died from head injuries while Natalie and Nala both died from blunt force head injuries. Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, remains in custody in South Africa after being arrested in Johannesburg on suspicion of murdering his wife and two daughters. The memorial service brought together family, friends, colleagues and teachers, who shared memories of the trio and paid tribute to the lives they lived. Zandile’s cousin, Michelle Ncube, told mourners: “Words cannot begin to describe the depth of our loss. We grieve the loss of the future that have been stolen from them and from us.” Remembering her cousin, she said: “She blessed us with her dry wit, her intelligence. She loved gardening. But she didn’t just nurture flowers, she nurtured people.” Michelle said Zandile had been “completely devoted” to her daughters and that “everything she did was with their future in mind”. A message from Zandile’s sister, who lives in Zimbabwe, was also shared with the congregation. She wrote: “She was more than my sister…sharing a bond through a lifetime of memories. [The loss has] created a void in our hearts and our family that words can hardly describe…life will never be the same without them.” Natalie was remembered by Bedford Girls’ School headmistress Gemma Gibson, who said: “When we think of Natalie as a young girl, we picture her smile first…it simply reflected the beautiful person she was. She was a composed and thoughtful pupil who loved learning…but it was her kindness that left the biggest impression.” Natalie represented the school 107 times in sports including lacrosse, tennis and hockey. Gemma added: “She will forever be loved and remembered by all of us at Bedford Girls’ School.” Nala’s class teacher, Nikki Woodworth, also paid tribute, saying “her hugs were legendary”. The memorial was organised by Jabu Ncube, who had known Zandile for 20 years after the pair met at university. He said: “How do you find words to confirm something that is unspeakable? How do you find words to comprehend something that is incomprehensible? I have the task of finding the words.” He urged those gathered to: “Remember them as the angels that they are.” Zandile’s colleagues at Forensic Risk Alliance, where she worked in the forensic data analytics team in London, also paid tribute. One colleague, Toby, said she showed “exceptional professionalism…sharp intelligence and a passion for her work with kindness”. Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was arrested on an unlicensed firearms charge in Johannesburg on July 10 after fleeing the UK. He appeared in court accused of illegally possessing firearms. South African courts will decide whether a British extradition request meets the legal requirements for his transfer to the UK and The Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised three murder charges against him. Funerals for Zandile, Natalie and Nala are due to take place in Zimbabwe next week.