Amanda EdwardsANGUISHED parents Lee and Beverely Edwards hope their year long wait for answers following the murder of their daughter Amanda is nearly over.

An inquest into her death is set to be held on June 22 and 23 at either Swindon or Devizes. The family hope it will help them understand more about what led to the death at 21 of the popular nursery assistant.

Amanda's body was found on a Malmesbury building site in April 2004 a week after she disappeared.

Wiltshire's head of CID Paul Howlett promised at the time that despite the death of prime suspect Ian Cortis the police inquiry would be as meticulous as if a trial was to be held.

He said: "There has been the same effort that would have gone into a murder trial for this report.

"The fact that Ian Cortis is dead has made no change. We still need to show that Amanda was unlawfully killed and who we believe was responsible for that death."

Ch Supt Howlett said the inquest will be a difficult time for Amanda's family.

"But it's our hope that throughout the inquiry they will obtain a greater understanding of how Amanda came to die, which will help them find some closure," he added

The inquest will also record a verdict on the reason for Cortis's death. He was found hanged at his father-in-law's home in Woodsage Close, Calne,

Mr and Mrs Edwards, of Blacklands, Purton, fear that Amanda's killer has taken some of the answers with him to the grave.

But Mrs Edwards' view is: "People need to know exactly what happened. It (the inquest) is going to be very upsetting to us, but I am just praying it is going to help someone else."

Cortis's death means there will always be unanswered questions for the Edwards family. "I don't feel that we have had justice. It was the easy way out, the coward's way out," said Mrs Edwards.

Her fianc, David Board from Calne, shared her parent's nightmare on the day she went missing. He became worried when she did not return his calls or texts.

Since the tragic events of last April residents, friends and colleagues who worked with Amanda at Little Foxes Nursery in Brinkworth have joined in offering support to her family.

Kelly Stoneham, 23, of Liden, studied childcare at Swindon College with Amanda. She now works as deputy manager of the college's Stars Nursery along with several other students who trained alongside Amanda and together they hope to dedicate an area of the garden in her memory.

A memorial is also planned at the Little Foxes Nursery. Local Purton pub the Royal George plans to plant a cherry tree in Amanda's memory.