The family of a 14-year-old girl found dead in a park has paid tribute to her as a “beautiful person”.
Lilly Jones was discovered in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina, South Wales, on June 22 after she was reported missing two days earlier.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, has been charged with murder and is due to stand trial in November.
On Thursday evening, Lilly’s family issued a tribute to her through Gwent Police.
They said: “As a family, the word ‘heartbroken’ doesn’t come close to what we feel.
“We’d like to focus more on Lilly and what a beautiful person she is rather than the horrific thing she’s been forced to endure.
“Lilly is the most beautiful, kind and caring little girl we had the privilege to call our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.
“She is completely and utterly herself, she’s quirky and confident, sassy and dramatic and loves her music.
“Her eclectic taste in music took us from My Chemical Romance to Kate Bush and absolutely unapologetically sang every word on the top of her voice, no matter who’s listening.
“We could write a book about how amazing and accepting of all types of people she is, advocating for anyone who needed her to.
“Our loss has left an unimaginable hole in not only our lives but in the whole community.”
Lilly’s family also thanked the community for support and donations.
An inquest opening at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Monday heard Lilly is believed to have died from multiple stab wounds.
She was reported missing from her home address in Blaina on the evening of June 20.
Her body was discovered in a woodland location, with injuries to her chest and neck, shortly after 10pm on June 22.
A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the neck and trunk.
The 14-year-old boy who is charged with her murder appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on June 29.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, fixed a trial date of November 23 this year.
The defendant, from the Blaenau Gwent area of south-east Wales, was previously described by police as white British.