'Our beautiful friend': Tribute to Scots newly-wed feared murdered on Spanish hen-do

Kirsty Maxwell, from Livingston, who wed her long-term boyfriend Adam in September is understood to have been on a hen do with up to 35 female friends in Benidorm when she plunged to her death.

As friends told of their shock at the the events in the capital of the Costa Blanca, a 32-year-old British holidaymaker , known only as Joseph, was released without charge after a private court hearing pending an ongoing investigation.

Kirsty (centre) duing her wedding in September. Source: Facebook

It was not clear if the judicial probe, led by an investigating judge, was being conducted as a homicide or manslaughter inquiry.

A fund-raising campaign to "bring our beautiful friend Kirsty back home to rest", more than doubled its target of £10,000 in the space of four hours.

The man was arrested on suspicion of Kirsty’s murder but the investigating judge can decide to downgrade an inquiry after questioning a suspect.

Formal charges are not normally laid in Spain until shortly before trial.

It is believed the suspect has been made an ‘investigado’, a new legal term in Spain which literally means “under investigation”.

Court officials are expected to make an official statement after the Bank Holiday.

Kirsty’s family are thought to have hired a private lawyer to represent their interests, as in Spain lawyers hired by relatives of the alleged victim of a crime can conduct a parallel prosecution to the one mounted by a state lawyer.

Some sources suggested police had ruled out any signs of criminality and that the incident pointed to being an accident.

Sources in Spain said that the incident came after she went out on Friday night to party and she was one of the first to retire to sleep at the apartment they had booked in the Payma building on Calle Almería, located in the Guiri area of ​​Benidorm.

Spanish sources say that for unknown reasons, the girl awoke and ended up in a room occupied by a group of around five men.

One source said: "It's possible she became disorientated and ended up there by accident.

"The man who has been arrested is the one who opened the door to her and was near her when the incident happened."

Her body was found only inches from the swimming pool at the Apartmentos Payma on Saturday morning.

Source claim police have not yet found any traces of violence or having suffered any type of aggression.

One Spanish newspaper claimed that police had arrested the man because he could not take a statement due to his serious state of intoxication.

The man had remained in the cells since Saturday until he could clarify the facts.

One source said: "There's nothing at the moment to indicate any criminal wrongdoing on the part of any of the five men in that room."

'Once that formal statement has been taken investigators will be in a position to decide if they can formally rule him out of the inquiry.'

One friend, Jamie Clifford paid her tribute on social media with a picture of Ms Maxwell with her friends, and the words: "Our beautiful friend."

Another friend commented: "Kirsty Maxwell, can't believe what happened, such a shame you had such a big future ahead of you."

Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven‏ paid his tribute while supporting the crowdfunding campaign which raised over £23,000 in four hours.

The Scotland international said: "Thoughts are with Kirsty's family and friends. Any help would be greatly appreciated."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who sadly died in Benidorm on April 29.

“We are in contact with the local authorities.”

Benidorm's apartment blocks, fast-food outlets, bars and nightclubs have long drawn British tourists looking for cheap package holiday.