Mirror journalist Rupert Hamer laid to rest

Friends and family of Sunday Mirror journalist Rupert Hamer gathered at his funeral yesterday . The 39-year-old father of three was the first British journalist to be killed in the Afghanistan conflict when the US military convoy he was travelling in was attacked on 9 January. The private funeral for close friends and family was held at St Mary-at-Finchley. Photographer Phil Coburn, 43, who was injured in the blast, was still in hospital and unable to attend. Sean Rayment, Sunday Telegraph defence correspondent, read a tribute, as did journalists Piers Hopkirk and Sam Greenhill. There will be a public memorial in the next few months.