Hundreds of people paid their last respects to slain Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear and British ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry at their funeral in capital Caracas.

Spear, model-turned actress, was shot dead in front of her five-year-old daughter on an isolated highway during a failed robbery attempt.

The incident had sent shock waves across the Latin American country, which is reeling under heavy homicide rates. Many of the mourners who turned up to pay respects to the pair did not know them personally but the large turnout yet again underscored the increasing crime rates.

Ahead of the funeral, a private wake was also conducted allowing the public, who were waiting in long queues, to pay their personal tributes.

During the funeral, the former Miss Venezuela's father Rafael Spear said: "My heart is hurting but I find strength in Mónica to plead for a change. Things have to change. We have to find the capos that are providing the guns to the people. We have to stop killing each other. I hope her death serves to eliminate this senseless violence."

It is also unclear whether Maya Berry Spear will be taken care by Spear's or Berry's family. The daughter was also shot in her leg during the incident and is under medical attention.

Spear won the Miss Venezuela competition in 2004 before entering into soap operas. She had acted in many soap operas including Flor Salvaje (Savage Flower) and Pasion Prohibida (Forbidden Passion) of the Telemundo network.

Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Fans of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear gather during her wake in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Mourners stand near the hearses at the funeral of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Relatives carry the coffins of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and that of her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry (front) during their funeral in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Relatives carry the coffin of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear and that of her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry (not pictured) during their funeral in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Rafael Spear (L), father of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear, and her siblings Carolina (C) and Ricardo attend her wake in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Mourners gather during the wake for former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear in Caracas Reuters
Former Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear's funeral
Relatives of former Miss Venezuela Monica Spear carry her coffin and that of her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry during their funeral in Caracas Reuters