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Bodies released for funeral arrangements

Wednesday 20 February 2008, 3:27PM

By New Zealand Police

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PARAPARAUMU

The bodies of the three young men killed in Sunday's air tragedy at Paraparaumu have been returned to their families enabling funeral arrangements to take place.

Senior Sergeant Alasdair Macmillan, Kapiti Police, said post mortems have been completed and the coroner has authorised the release of the bodies to their next of kin.

Funeral services will be held at Kapiti College on Friday afternoon for 17-year-old Bevan Hookway and at the Kapiti Aero Club for 30-year-old rescue pilot David Fielding. The family of the third victim, 19-year-old James Taylor, is returning to their home in the Nelson Lakes area where it is expected a service will be held.

Senior Sergeant Macmillan said a small police team remains on the investigation, alongside TAIC staff.

A commercial firm is working with police this afternoon to clean the helicopter crash site in the Placemaker's panel yard so that the business can fully re-open.

A community memorial service for the victims is to be held at St Paul's in Paraparaumu at 2pm next Thursday, 28 February. Minister Denise Fergusson said the service is an opportunity for all the community to support one another in the aftermath of the tragedy.