Body of Kiwi punk killed in London returns home

Andrews with Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand punk singer Steve Andrews will be farewelled in Wellington next week, more than a month after he died following a fight outside a London pub.

Well-known on the Wellington punk scene as the singer of local band Vas Deferens, Mr Andrews suffered serious head injuries in the fight outside the Duke's Head pub in Putney shortly after midnight on December 9 last year.

The 46-year-old was taken to hospital but died shortly after 6pm that day. A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection to his death.

Today, family spokeswoman Helen Coffey said contributions from friends had been a huge help in bringing Mr Andrews' body home.

"It has been a huge relief to finally have him with us after navigating what, at times, has seemed like a lengthy legal process,'' she said.

Mr Andrews would be farewelled at the Holy Cross Church in Miramar on Monday afternoon.

Mr Andrews, whose band formed in 1988, was thought to have been celebrating his girlfriend's birthday before the attack last year.

He had been living in London, where he worked as a postie, for 15 years, The Wandsworth Guardian reported.

Ms Coffey said his family had been reading numerous stories about Mr Andrews which friends had shared since his death.

"The stories have made us both laugh and cry. They have all shown how many lives he touched.''