The criminal lawyer slain in a brazen cafe shooting last week has been laid to rest by family and friends at a peaceful Buddhist ceremony in Sydney’s west.
A crowd of about a hundred mourners gathered to say goodbye to Vietnamese migrant and respected community figure Ho Ledinh, 66, in an open-casket service on Wednesday afternoon.
His crying wife Ngo Thi Thu Huong and adult and small children knelt on cushions as about 24 monks chanted traditional songs, lit candles and chimed instruments.
Murdered criminal lawyer Ho Ledinh, 66, has been laid to rest by family and friends on Wednesday afternoon
His crying wife Ngo Thi Thu Huong (centre) and adult and small children were in attendance
Friends and family said goodbye to the Vietnamese migrant in a peaceful Buddhist ceremony in Sydney’s west
About 24 monks chanted traditional songs, lit candles and chimed instruments
Mr Ledinh was brutally murdered about 3.40pm last Tuesday when a gunman wearing a hi-vis top rushed the Happy Cup cafe, shot him up to four times and fled as he staggered to the floor and died.
Despite their best efforts, paramedics and his close friend Huu – crying ‘say something, please!’ – could not revive him.
A day later, his devastated close friend Vivian Vo broke down on the concrete outside the popular cafe Mr Ledinh used to own.
On Wednesday, Mr Ledinh’s family arrived at a Fairfield funeral parlour in black suits.
Mr Ledinh’s family attended the service at a Fairfield funeral parlour on Wednesday wearing black suits
Mr Ledinh’s body was placed in a black coffin and relatives went barefoot
At one point in the ceremony, white cloth was tied around the heads of each member
Mr Ledinh will be cremated on Thursday morning following the open-casket service
Mr Ledinh’s body was placed in a black coffin and relatives went barefoot, sitting on cushions in front of an altar as a senior monk led the chanting.
At one point in the ceremony, white cloth was tied around the heads of each member – but Mr Ledinh’s toddler son couldn’t keep still for his mother to put it on.
Last week, family friend Ms Vo told Daily Mail Australia that that his youngest child had gone looking around the house for the siblings’ father.
‘They really miss daddy,’ Ms Vo said.
Police formed Strike Force Eugene to find the killer. The motive for Mr Ledinh’s slaying is unknown, but he is known to have been in debt and dealt with alleged criminals in his job and had outspoken political views.
Mr Ledinh will be cremated on Thursday morning.
Mr Ledinh (pictured with Ms Ngo) was brutally murdered about 3.40pm last Tuesday
A gunman wearing a hi-vis top rushed the Happy Cup cafe (pictured), shot him up to four times and fled as he staggered to the floor and died
The motive for Mr Ledinh’s slaying is unknown, but he is known to have been in debt and dealt with alleged criminals in his job and had outspoken political views