Jennifer Mills-Westley had moved out to Tenerife to live out her retirement in the undisputed beauty of the largest of the seven Canary islands.

In the end her attempts to lead the sort of life of which many could only dream turned into a terrible nightmare.

Neighbours living at the Port Royale apartments complex overlooking the port of Los Cristianos, where Mrs Mills-Westley moved to more than a decade ago, are among those who still mourn her loss.

A man who did not want to be named, but worked at the Port Royale apartments, high up in the hills, overlooking Los Cristianos, where Mrs Mills-Westley lived until her tragic and untimely death, said: 'She was a very nice lady – very, very friendly. I heard she helped people on the street. A nice person, a friendly person.'

But of course it is not just in Tenerife where Mrs Mill's Westley's loss has been felt.

Before moving to Los Cristianos the 60-year-old lived in Saracen Road and worked for Norfolk County Council as a road safety officer.

Working for the county council from July 1988 and July 2003 she made a big impact on those with whom she served, perhaps none more so than casualty reduction manager Iain Temperton.

Mr Temperton, who worked with Mrs Mills-Westley when they were both road safety officers – she joined his team in the mid 1990s when she covered the south Norfolk area – said: 'Jenny was a popular and well respected member of staff, who during her time with Norfolk County Council worked as a road safety officer – working with many schools and children to make Norfolk's roads safer.

'The manner of her death was horrific and I hope the outcome of the court case finally brings closure for her family, whom our thoughts are still with.'

Reverend Enid Jones-Blackett, a retired priest based in Hellesdon where Mrs Mills-Westley used to live, held prayers for her and her family in the aftermath of the tragedy almost two years ago.

Reverend Andrew Beane, former rector of Spixworth, Crostwick and Horsham St Faiths, near where Mrs Mills-Westley's daughter Sarah lives, conducted the funeral.

He said: 'It was a tragedy, a dreadful tragedy – an awful situation.

'At her funeral we had the reading of Jesus calming the storm from St Matthew's Gospel and we spoke about how life must been like a turmoil with this storm for the family and I just hope that the trial gives them some sense of closure during what must be a very distressing time.

'For the family this must have been a very stormy time and I hope that they find some peace or the trial brings them peace. Goodness, they've had to relive it all.

'Our prayers and thoughts are very much with them and this week we will be praying for them.'

Rev Jones-Blackett said she hoped the trial would help bring closure for the family who have suffered so much in the aftermath of such horrific events.

She said: 'She was a Hellesdon person and part of the parish and we held her in our prayers. We hold all the family in our prayers.

'Hopefully the court case will help the family come to some closure in terribly sad circumstances. It's very difficult for the family in these circumstances.'

She owned two apartments in the Port Royale complex on the hillside edge of Los Cristianos. One two-bedroom flat was rented out while she lived in the other and had been resident there for at least 10 years.

With one of her daughters living in France and the other in Norwich, she enjoyed travelling to pay visits to her family.

In a poignant tribute following her death, her ex-husband Peter told the Mail on Sunday she was a 'wonderful woman, a brilliant mother and I loved her dearly'.