Punk Star Vicious Found Dead

NEW YORK--Sid Vicious, the British punk rock star charged with murdering his girlfriend, died yesterday after an apparent heroin overdose, police said yesterday.

Vicious took the drug at a Greenwich Village party celebrating his release from jail earlier this week, police spokesmen added.

Police said a syringe, a spoon and "what was probably heroin residue" were found near the body when it was discovered by the musician's mother Anne Beverly.

The 21-year-old Vicious, whose real name was John Simon Ritchie, was accused of killing his long-time girlfriend, Nancy Spungen.

Vicious rose to fame in 1977 as a bass guitarist with the now-defunct Sex Pistols rock band.