Like the potential victims of his short-lived career as a drug courier, Van Nguyen twitched till dead by the virtue of non-life. Hanged by the Singaporean Government at 06:00 Singapore time (09:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Savings time) early this December morning.
Holding vigil under the threat of protest, supporters, choked by tears and sorrow, lightened up the gates of Changi prison, keeper of the man convicted three years ago of moving masses of malice.
"Australia's policy needs to be consistent and must be based on principle, not on pragmatism. Capital punishment has no place in a modern world," Senator Bob Brown of the Greens, opposed at the Australian Federal Government's opposition in opposing the taste for the death penalty.
Condemned to the sentencing of a mandatory death penalty, the final months of Nguyen's life witnessed more and more publicity compared to the wallowing years leading up. Last minute efforts to pull the man back to Australian shores on extradition orders were too little, too late. Rubbernecking politicians and the media knotted and ever unsure of their stance on drugs with good intentions, the death penalty as a poor deterrent and twins in general.
Offering only a final warm hand of embrace, the Singaporean government denied his mother, Kim, a simple hug before his fateful and one-off date with the gallows.
"Sweet creeping jesus," remarked a few shocked witnesses. Aghast at the mention of uncannily sharp and humorous double edge reports on the man's final minutes.
In traditional stance, of an otherwise immovable calendar commitment, Prime Minister John Howard made his faithful trip to watch on as his XI cricket side thrashed a defeat into the hands of the West Indies. Their heads hanging in shame, limp by a loss.
Nguyen Tuong Van, left dangling and hung out to dry; closing a chapter of his life. His body is expected back in Australia on the weekend where preparations for his funeral will most like crack up at a faster break neck speed than that in rescuing him from the initial predicament.
Written on Friday, 2 December 2005