Marshalls visit memorial

Sergeant Matt Donkin flew Alan and Wendy Marshall to Perth last week to unveil a memorial plaque for their son. Photo / Supplied

The parents of the man who plunged to his death at a Perth pub have flown to Australia to unveil a memorial plaque.

Andy Marshall was pushed through a second-storey window in 2011 by former rugby league player Stefan Schmidt.

A detective who investigated the death of the Hawke's Bay musician arranged the memorial in Andy's honour.

Sergeant Matt Donkin, of the Western Australia Police, formed close ties with the Marshall family, supporting them through the investigation and two court trials.

He raised more than $4100 towards the memorial for the Marshall family - exceeding his $2500 goal - and used the remaining funds to fly Andy's parents to Australia to attend the unveiling ceremony last Friday.

Andy's father, Hawke's Bay-based Alan Marshall, said it was emotional to catch up with Sergeant Donkin, who did a "great job" organising the memorial.

"We are quite pleased with how it has all come together," Mr Marshall said. "The plaque has come out really well and Andy's photo looks very realistic."

Mr Marshall told Hawke's Bay Today it was difficult to return to the site on the anniversary but he felt it was the right thing to do for his son, who would have turned 33 in December.

The memorial lies in the pavement outside Cottesloe's Ocean Beach Hotel.

"We hope it will send a powerful message about the devastating effects of violence.

"We want to draw attention to the irreversible consequences violence can have and the pain and grief it causes," Mr Marshall said.

Schmidt was jailed for Marshall's murder in 2012 and given a minimum sentence of 14 years.

He admitted pushing Andy, causing him to fall seven metres to the ground, but claimed he did not mean to kill him.

Schmidt was acquitted of murder on appeal but found guilty of manslaughter and was jailed last year for nine years.

Andy's cousin, Scott Guy, was shot dead at his Feilding home in 2010.