Hanged Australian died 'courageous' death

Green MP Keith Locke, centre, with supporters, outside the Singapore High Commission in Wellington. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Australian Nguyen Tuong Van went to his death in Singapore's Changi Prison unshackled but clutching the rosary beads of his Catholic faith.

"I know that he died the courageous death that he planned for himself and died as an optimistic young man, making us all extremely proud of him," said his lawyer, Lex Lasry.

With a nun and another man at his side for his last moments, Nguyen prayed and recited Psalm 23 before he was led to the noose and hanged at dawn (11am NZT) after Singapore ruled out any last-minute reprieve.

In Singapore and cities across Australia, there were vigils to mark the first execution of an Australian since 1993.

Nguyen received the mandatory death sentence after being caught with 396g of heroin at Changi Airport in 2002, which he was trying to smuggle to Australia to pay off his twin brother Khoa's debts.

Mr Lasry said the hope was Khoa would take inspiration from the death of Nguyen, whose body will be returned to Australia for a funeral on Wednesday.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said: "I hope the strongest message that comes out of this ... is a message to the young of Australia - don't have anything to do with drugs, don't use them, don't touch them, don't carry them, don't traffick in them."