Slain Wellington journalist Phillip Cottrell will be farewelled at a service at St Andrews on the Terrace on Friday afternoon. The 43-year-old died in Wellington Hospital on Sunday, after being attacked on Boulcott St by yet-unknown assailants as he walked home from an overnight shift editing bulletins at Radio New Zealand on Saturday. His funeral will be held at St Andrews on the Terrace on Friday at 1PM followed by a private cremation. Cottrell is survived by his UK-based parents, a sister and brother-in-law, niece and nephew and many close friends. Messages to 'the Cottrell family' may be left in Phillip's tribute book here or posted c/- PO Box 14-366, Kilbirnie 6241. Cottrell's family, friends and colleagues have thanked Wellington ICU for its compassionate support and extreme professionalism in its care, and police for their tremendous commitment in the search of justice. "From Phillips' family, a special thanks to all those at Radio NZ for your warmth, support and courage through this terrible, terrible time," a statement on Tributes Online reads. "But above all, to the Taxi Driver who first assisted Phil, words cannot express the love in our hearts for the gift that you gave to both ourselves and Phillip...the gift of farewell." It's understood Cottrell's family has asked for no media coverage of the funeral service, which GayNZ.com will respect.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 13th December 2011 - 4:15pm