THE mother of a murdered backpacker said yesterday the death of psychology student Katherine Horton should not put young people off going abroad.

Marjorie Marks-Stuttle said news of the murder of the 21-year-old from Cardiff brought memories of her daughter, Caroline, flooding back.

Miss Horton had flown to Koh Samui, in Thailand, for the New Year with a friend from Reading University.

She was attacked after leaving her friend and walking alone along the beach to chat on her mobile phone to her mother, who heard her screams before the line went dead.

Her body was found the next morning floating in shallow water off Lamai beach by jet-ski operators.

She had been beaten, and possibly raped, before being dumped in the sea.

Thai police believe the killer was a local man.

Katherine's father, Ian, and her older brother, Richard, flew out to Thailand yesterday. They were joined by a family liaison officer from South Wales Police.

Mrs Marks-Stuttle, of Pocklington, near York, said: "My heart goes out to Katherine's parents and family because I know what they are going through. It's just so utterly devastating when a young life is taken like that.

"Whenever I hear a backpacker has been killed, it brings Caroline back to the forefront of my mind."

Caroline, 19, from Huntington, York, was killed in April 2002 when she was attacked and thrown off a bridge by 32-year-old Ian Previte while travelling in Australia.

He was found guilty of murder and robbery in 2004 and lost an appeal against his conviction last year.

Following Caroline's murder, Mrs Marks-Stuttle, with her son, Richard, and husband, David Marks, founded Caroline's Rainbow Foundation, which aims to help young backpackers keep safe while fulfilling their dream of travel.

Mrs Marks-Stuttle said: "It's still a rare occurrence that something this tragic happens and people should not be put off going abroad, but the important thing is they don't put themselves in dangerous situations and research thoroughly before they go."