'She wanted to start a family': Husband of murdered Thornton's girl Jia Ashton makes emotional tribute at her funeral

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 10:51 EST, 9 June 2011


The husband of a murdered economics graduate paid an emotional tribute to his wife at her funeral today and revealed she had wanted to start a family.

Jia Ashton's husband, Matthew, said he and his 25-year-old wife had decided to start trying for a family shortly before her death, and she was especially keen to have a baby boy.

A small laugh went up from the mourners at the packed St Thomas's Church in Alfreton, Derbyshire, as Mr Ashton told them: "Jia decided that, at last, I was almost grown up enough to have one."

Mourning: Matthew Ashton (right), husband of murdered Jia Ashton, carries her coffin following her funeral service at St Thomas's Church in Alfreton, Derbyshire

Mourning: Matthew Ashton, rear right, husband of murdered Jia Ashton, carries her coffin following her funeral service at St Thomas's Church in Alfreton, Derbyshire

Murder: David Simmonds, 21, has been charged with Jia Ashton's murder and is in custody awaiting a court hearing on August 30

Murder: David Simmonds, 21, has been charged with Jia Ashton's murder and is in custody awaiting a court hearing on August 30

Mr Asthon, front left, told the congregation his wife Jia had wanted to start a family

Tragedy: Mr Asthon, right, told the congregation his wife Jia had wanted to start a family

Grieving: Mourners attend Jia Ashton's funeral service at St Thomas's Church in Alfreton, Derbyshire and listened to a moving tribute from her husband

Grieving: Mourners attend Jia Ashton's funeral service at St Thomas's Church in Alfreton, Derbyshire and listened to a moving tribute from her husband

He told the congregation, which totalled more than 100 people, that Mrs Ashton wanted a son because she joked that she had had some practice being around baby boys.

Mrs Ashton left the Thorntons site in Swanwick shortly after 5pm on March 10 and is known to have walked into Sleetmoor Woods - her regular route home from work - along a path known locally as the "Yellow Brick Road".

Her body was found three days later in the woods at 4.30pm on March 13. She died from head injuries.

Jia Ashton
Happier times: Jia Ashton and her husband Matthew Ashton on their wedding day

Jia Ashton: When the economics student graduated, left, and on her wedding day with new husband Matthew

Shock: Thorntons workers photographed in March leaving flowers near the factory where their colleague worked

Shock: Thorntons workers photographed in March leaving flowers near the factory where their colleague worked

Matthew, 26, and Jia met while students at Warwick University. They married in Jia’s native China five years ago.

Her husband, a primary school teacher and piano instructor, was originally arrested for her murder but was later released without charge.

He referred to his wife as his ‘pocket princess’ – a reference to her standing just 4ft 10in tall.

David Simmonds, 21, has been charged with her murder and is in custody awaiting a court hearing on August 30.

The 'Yellow Brick Road' track where Jia Ashton was found murdered in Sleetmoor Woods, Derbyshire

The 'Yellow Brick Road' track where Jia Ashton was found murdered in Sleetmoor Woods, Derbyshire

Aerial map of the final footsteps of murder victim Jia Ashton


 

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