Advertisement

'The system failed her': Grieving friend of Courtney Herron speaks out

A friend of the young woman who was found brutally murdered in a Melbourne park has said she was “shocked and saddened” to hear of Courtney Herron’s death.

In an interview with The Project on Monday night, Jessica Bateman said she had been “worried immensely” about the 25-year-old who had been experiencing homelessness.

“She was couch-surfing and when she couldn’t find a friend to couch-surf with, she’d spend nights in parks — the park that she was discovered in,” Ms Bateman said.

“We worried about each other but I worried about her more so because I live in a house, I’ve got support systems, I’ve got family and Courtney didn’t.

“She knew that her family loved her, but she wasn’t in touch with them. It was very, if you will, sporadic.”

Ms Bateman said “the system” had let the young woman down before her horrific death, and failed to provide her with the assistance she desperately needed with housing, drug dependency and mental illness.

“She was trying to get into public housing, she was trying to get onto methadone or something that would stop the withdrawal symptoms that she was going to face — and the fear of withdrawal is what really kept her using,” Ms Bateman said.

Jessica Bateman said the system had failed her friend Courtney Herron before the 25-year-old's horrific death. Source: The Project / Channel 10
Jessica Bateman said the system had failed her friend Courtney Herron before the 25-year-old's horrific death. Source: The Project / Channel 10

Earlier on Monday, Ms Herron’s distraught mother was among family and friends who paid a tearful visit to the park where her battered body was found by dog walkers.

Courtney Herron was allegedly killed by a man with a history of mental health issues, a magistrate was told on Monday, two days after her death.

Her mother arrived on Monday holding a bunch of flowers and accompanied by several others including Ms Herron’s grandmother.

She broke down as they arrived to an area of the park filled with floral tributes.

Ms Herron was discovered on Saturday morning, a short distance from where 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon was raped and murdered last year.

Courtney Herron's mother, pictured in the green coat, laying flowers in Parkville on Monday where her daughter's body was found.
Ms Herron's mother, pictured in the green coat, laying flowers in Parkville on Monday. Source: 7News

Homeless man Henry Richard Hammond, 27, faced court on Monday charged with Ms Herron's murder, smiling at times and appearing to have a bruised face.

His lawyer outlined a history of mental health issues and outside court pointed to "a very tragic and complex situation," but gave no insight into the events leading up to Ms Herron's death.

She was also suffering mental health and drug issues, but it is not known if they knew each other.

Ms Herron had not been seen since May 14 when she came into contact with police at St Albans.

Police would not give details of their interaction.

Courtney Herron was killed some time between Friday night and Saturday morning in Parkville, north Melbourne.
Courtney Herron was killed some time between Friday night and Saturday morning. Source: Nine News

More protection for women promised

The latest crime prompted a promise from federal Minister for Women Marise Payne to do more to protect women.

"We have been only too tragically reminded in the last couple of days, again in Melbourne with the appalling murder of Courtney Herron, that the safety of women is something that must concern us all," she told ABC radio.

Police said Ms Herron suffered extreme violence.

"This was a particularly horrendous attack," Homicide squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said.

Ms Herron had been couch surfing and sleeping rough for some time while struggling with drug and mental health issues.

Insp Stamper said while she had been in sporadic contact with her family there were "a lot of people out there who knew and loved Courtney".

Homeless women are particularly vulnerable to violence, Victoria's Council to Homeless Persons CEO Jenny Smith said.

Henry Richard Hammond, 27, faced a single charge of murder in court on Monday.
Henry Richard Hammond, 27, faced a single charge of murder in court on Monday. Source: Facebook

"Too often there just isn't a safe option for homeless women, leaving them vulnerable to the risks of sleeping rough, or of staying in unsafe housing options like rooming houses, where they are vulnerable to physical and sexual assault," she said.

Ms Smith welcomed housing funding from the Victorian government but said more was needed, including from Canberra.

"We can protect women like Courtney, but as a society have to choose to do it," she added.

Call for support at upcoming vigil

The sister of Ms Herron's ex-boyfriend encouraged people to attend Friday's vigil at Royal Park.

"Can any of my sister girls or bruthas be in attendance with possum skins, didgeridoo players and a smoking ceremony fire pit?" the woman posted on her Facebook account.

"Courtney is not indigenous, although she spent many years with my brother and within our ... Koorie community.

"I want to pay my respects and show her that our mob, our families, our communities cared for her, we feel sadness and sorrow at her passing and we want to set her spirit free."

Ms Dixon was raped and murdered at Carlton North's Princes Park on June 12 last year, while Aiia Maasarwe, 21, died after being attacked walking home near La Trobe University on January 15.

Both were attacked by men they did not know and who have since been charged.

Last month, Natalina Angok's body was found dumped in Melbourne's Chinatown, allegedly killed by her one-time partner Christopher Allen who has been charged.

With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.