HUNDREDS of people in Caracas paid their final respects to a murdered former beauty queen whose killing has reignited debate about Venezuela's soaring rates of violent crime.

Actress and former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear, 29, was shot dead last Monday along with British ex-husband, Thomas Henry Berry, 39, after the pair apparently tried to fend off robbers when their car broke down. Their daughter, Maya, five, is recovering from bullet wound to her leg.

Several suspects have been arrested.