Mourners at Myuran Sukumaran's funeral sing death row hymns

A close friend of convicted drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran has remembered the 34-year-old as a kind, helpful man who comforted others to the very end.

Mourners arrive for Myuran Sukumaran's funeral

Myuran Sukumaran's funeral is being held in Sydney.

Friends and family of Myuran Sukumaran have sung the same songs the convicted drug smuggler recited as he faced an Indonesian firing squad 10 days ago.

The notes of Amazing Grace and Hallelujah echoed throughout the DaySprings church in Sydney on Saturday as hundreds gathered to farewell Sukumaran.

A tin of paint brushes next to Sukumaran's coffin served as a poignant reminder of the passion the 34-year-old turned himself to while on death row in Indonesia.

Ivar Schou, a volunteer at Kerobokan prison, remembered the Bali nine ringleader as a kind person who always thought of others.

"He had an inner strength and charisma I've never seen before," he told the service on Saturday.

"Until the end, under very difficult circumstances, in prison for 10 years, he was helping and comforting all others in Kerobokan prison in Bali," Mr Schou said, adding he would work to abolish the death penalty.

"I miss you so much my friend."

Among the crowd was artist Ben Quilty, who forged a close friendship with Sukumaran as his mentor.
The brother of fellow Bali nine smuggler Andrew Chan, who was farewelled on Friday, Michael Chan, was also at the funeral, alongside Mr Sukumaran's family.

Family and friends were wearing orange ribbons, to symbolise Mr Sukumaran's favourite colour.

Mourners also sang Sukumaran's favourite song, 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.

His cousin Niranjela Karunatilake spoke of his selflessness, including selling his paintings to pay for an inmate's life-saving operation.

"Myu taught us to love or how to love," she said.

"What the world is seeing now is what we already knew."

Recent events are difficult to comprehend, Ms Karunatilake said, and left her questioning faith and hope.

She said Sukumaran took care of and looked after his fellow
inmates at Kerobokan prison.

Describing him as a kind, gentle giant, she said he may have appeared intimidating but his smile dispelled the myth.

"He smiled with his eyes, just like the way our grandmother does."

But she said he knew in his heart he made a mistake.

"He was young, and wanted to be successful," she said. "He just chose the wrong way to go about it."

In a message read out at the funeral, fellow Bali Nine inmate Matthew Norman paid tribute to his friend.

"I was a boy when I got arrested and with the help of Myu over time I grew into a man and it's thanks to him," Norman wrote.

Sukumaran had helped countless prisoners, including drug addicts, dealers, murderers and thieves, Norman wrote.

Another inmate who shared a room with Sukumaran wrote that even in his final moments, Sukumaran wanted to make sure the programs he oversaw in jail were in good hands.




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Source: AAP


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