The family of an Essex University student brutally murdered in Thailand have said the past few weeks have been “agony”.

Hannah Witheridge’s body was found on a beach in Koh Tao on September 15 with serious head injuries.

Alongside the 23-year-old speech and language therapy student, who was living in Colchester, was the body of David Miller, 24, from Jersey.

In a statement issued today Miss Witheridge’s family said: “Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear.

“The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing.

“As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannah’s ‘party’, our thoughts are with David Miller’s family who are suffering the same indescribable agony.

“Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.

“Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders.

“Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

“She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a speech and language therapist.

“As a family we hope that the right people are found and brought to justice.”

Thai police have charged two Burmese migrant workers with rape, murder and robbery.