A MOTHER has paid tribute to her 30-year-old daughter thought to have been killed in a murder suicide.

Susan Trim, the mother of Julia Tshabalala, said: “We are all absolutely devastated by Julia's death. The pain and the heartache we feel at losing such a beautiful daughter, sister and mother is indescribable.

"Julia was a loving, happy, kind and caring daughter and a fantastic mother to her two young children.

"Julia was taken from us much too soon. She lived for her children and would have done anything for them.

"My daughter and I were very close and I miss her more than words can say. I will always love her dearly and her beautiful memory lives on in her children."

The bodies of Julia and her husband Jan, 33, were found by a neighbour at their home in Groomsland Drive, Billingshurst, on Christmas Day. Initially it was thought the couple, who have two children aged between two and seven, had died in a suicide pact.

An inquest into the deaths of Mrs Tshabalala and Jan has yet to take place.