A solemn ceremony at CFB Trenton Thursday morning, as the remains of the Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan were returned home.

Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy's body arrived from Kabul by plane, for the first of several ceremonies planned to in the coming week.

Murphy's parents and common-law wife Candace McCauley looked on as pallbearers carried the flag-draped coffin to the hearse en route to Toronto. CTV's Steve Chao is at the base, and said McCauley is distraught and has asked the media to respect her privacy.

In a statement released earlier she said, "Jamie was a proud Canadian soldier who was honoured to wear his uniform. His life and this tragedy has touched all lives.

"Above anything else, Jamie was first a son, uncle, friend and to myself a person who completed every part of my existence that was missing, to make my life whole."

McCauley, 26, was about to buy a house with Murphy in Petawawa, Ont. He was due to arrive back home next week.

Prime Minister Paul Martin, Defence Minister David Pratt, and other dignitaries arrived at the base earlier Thursday morning. Martin said he plans to speak to Murphy's mother but admits it will be difficult to answer all of her questions.

Murphy, 26, was killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan Tuesday that also left three other Canadian soldiers wounded. They were attacked as they rode in an Iltis vehicle while on a routine patrol through the outskirts of Kabul. Murphy died instantly.

An autopsy will be performed in Toronto, then another memorial service will be held in Pembroke, Ont., on Friday. A family funeral in Conception Harbour, Newfoundland is planned for next week.

On Wednesday, a small memorial ceremony was held at Camp Julien, where soldiers stationed there paid tribute to Murphy.

The top Canadian soldier in Afghanistan said later in the day that he expects more suicide attacks like the one that killed Murphy.

Maj.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, said the attack on the Canadian patrol and a subsequent attack that killed a British soldier were directly linked.

He said the similarities between the methods used by the attackers "are too strong to think otherwise." A man claiming to represent the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Canadian patrol.

Leslie says the risk of further bombings has gone up, but there's not much anyone can do to avoid more attacks.

However, he cautions that Canadian and other ISAF troops will be more vigilant in the days to come. Canadian troops have been ordered to use only armoured vehicles for patrols. They have also cancelled foot patrols and parked their Iltis jeeps.

Most soldiers will also remain for a couple of days in the relative safety of their bases around Kabul, to avoid being directly targeted on the streets.

That has already meant the postponement of several humanitarian projects that Canadian soldiers wanted to see completed before they head home over the next couple of weeks.