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The family of former Sittingbourne Community College teacher, Carl Davies, demonstrate outside the Foreign Office

Carl Davies's friends and family took part in a rally outside the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London in 2013
Carl Davies's friends and family took part in a rally outside the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London in 2013

The parents of murdered Sittingbourne teacher Carl Davies took part in a demonstration with other families who have lost loved ones abroad.

Andy and Maria Davies, plus a dozen of their close family and friends, joined more than 100 others outside the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London on Wednesday.

Organisers say the aim of the rally was to highlight the failure of the government to adequately help families get answers.

Carl was 33 when he was killed on the French-administered Indian Ocean island of Reunion on November 9, 2011. The former Royal Marine had been working as a security guard on a ship which had berthed there.

Prior to that, he had worked as a teacher at Sittingbourne Community College and the Isle of Sheppey Academy.

Mr and Mrs Davies, who live in Harrietsham, were initially told their son had died after falling into a ravine, but a week later they received the news he had been murdered.

Carl's father, Andy Davies
Carl's father, Andy Davies

Four people were charged in connection with Carl’s murder earlier this year but the couple are still fighting to get answers about his death and have no idea when the trial will be held.

Mrs Davies, 53, said: “The demo went well and we do feel we were listened to. Someone from the FCO came out and said they would speak to three people.

“That was at 1.30pm and when we left at 2.30pm they will still in there. They’ll feed back to us what was said via email over the next couple of days.

“It’s too late for our loved one but we need to stand up and say there is an issue so it doesn’t happen to others.

“Every time we have been to them the answer is always that they don’t have any jurisdiction in that country.

It’s nearly two years since he died and we’re still no closer to getting answers.”

Last Friday would have been Carl’s 35 birthday. She added: “It’s very difficult for us. Our daughter Kerrie’s birthday is two days before his and she doesn’t want to celebrate it anymore because her brother’s not here.

“It’s difficult, it’s torture. People say time is a great healer. It’s not, we’ve just learned to live with the situation. Everyday is a challenge.”

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