lawyer proud of 'courageous' nguyen

Van Nguyen's lawyer Lex Lasry, QC, says he could not be more proud of his client, who he says was brave until the end.

Nguyen, a 25-year-old drug trafficker from Melbourne, was hanged in Changi Prison this morning.

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

Mr Lasry says he is confident some good will come from the young man's death.

"This case and its impact is going to have a significant effect here in Singapore," he said.

"There's more feeling than people realise in this country about this sort of thing and while the issue is before the public both in Singapore and Australia, it's a good time to capitalise on it and think about the depravity of hanging someone under a mandatory regime."

He says he has spoken with Nguyen's brother Khoa, who he says is very distressed.

"But hopefully today for him is the start of the rest of his life," he said.

"And what we want Khoa to do is take inspiration for his brother, not guilt and move forward and carve out a life for himself in a way that his brother would want him to."

Meanwhile a funeral director's van carrying Nguyen's body has left the prison.

It was followed by a vehicle with officials from the Australian High Commission, who are understood to have formally identified the body on behalf of Nguyen's family.

Nguyen's mother, brother and uncle are expected to accompany the body on a flight back to Australia tomorrow night.

Mr Lasry is believed to be travelling with them.

Vigils

Thousands of people around Australia have attended vigils to pay their last respects to Nguyen.

In his home town of Melbourne, a mass was held in the church next door to Nguyen's primary school in Richmond.

At the time of the scheduled execution, the church bells rang out 25 times.

The priest conducting the mass, Father Peter Norden, says the execution was a futile and barbaric act.

"We reject the power of the state that destroys human life," he said.

Former governor-general Dr Peter Hollingworth says today's mass evoked memories of his 1967 vigil outside Pentridge Prison for Ronald Ryan, the last man to be hanged in Australia.

"It reminds me that many countries in the world, particularly our close and respected neighbours, are still doing things which we've given up long ago," he said.

Mr Lasry's daughter was among many who attended the Melbourne service.

Genevieve Lasry says the legal team put a lot of work into the case.

"I just feel for them all, for Kim and the family," she said.

Many supporters left the church in tears after lighting candles and presenting flowers.

In Sydney, more than 500 people attended vigil in Martin Place.

A minute's silence was held and a Vietnamese gong was chimed for each year of Nguyen's life, just after 9:00am AEDT.

In Canberra, a vigil was held at the Singapore High Commission during the last hour of the condemned prisoner's life.

People also attended church services in Brisbane, Hobart, Darwin and Perth.