KEY POINTS:
The body of murdered New Plymouth photojournalist Trent Keegan is expected home from Kenya this week.
Police have launched a homicide investigation after the 33-year-old was found dead with severe head injuries in a ditch beside a Nairobi highway last week.
His father, Mike Keegan, of Auckland, said his body was expected to leave Nairobi today.
Trent's sister, Nikki, and her husband Scott McKinnon, were on their way to New Plymouth from London, he told the Taranaki Daily News.
He wouldn't comment on why his son might have been killed until his body was safely back in New Zealand.
Keegan's mother, Trish, who lives in New Plymouth, said she was going through every parent's nightmare.
"I'm absolutely broken-hearted. The tributes on the telly, the tributes on his website, say it all about him. He was the most gorgeous guy," she told the paper.
"I want him home so we can say our farewells."
Keegan worked as a carpenter in New Plymouth and developed his passion for photography while overseas.
"He went searching for someone to give him the work experience. He was happy to work for nothing, just to get the experience and learn." Mrs Keegan said
Within a month he had been offered a job.
She had spoken to her son on May 26, two days before his badly beaten body was found.
"He was fine. He was always fine. He was always happy. Even if something bad had happened, he was fine."
She believed her son's work had something to do with his death. "I can't discount that, but I don't know definitely.
"He did know the risks, but he was following his dream."
Keegan had based him in Ireland for the past few years and memorial service for him will be held in Salthill, Galway, tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Kenyan police investigating the homicide have interviewed two of his friends in Nairobi and searched his apartment.
Keegan's wallet and money were recovered with him but camera equipment and a laptop he was carrying were missing.
"The last thing I remember him saying...was he does not feel safe travelling with equipment worth 30,000 euros ($60,716)," friend Irish artist Dave Redmond said last week.
Police said they were making good progress in the investigation into the death of Keegan who had been in Kenya since March 25 on a freelance assignment.
- NZPA
