‘Extremely happy and in love’: Andrew Murray remembered by former partner after shock killing

A man who was savagely murdered while he slept at Tweed Heads has been lovingly remembered by his devastated former partner as an ‘extremely talented’ and ‘highly intelligent’ man.

Andrew Whyte Murray (left) with ex, Mychelle Austyn before he was cruelly murdered on the Tweed in 2019. Picture: supplied

The savage bludgeoning death of a homeless man who had been sleeping at a popular Tweeds Head park has been devastating for his loved ones, shaken the community, and the nation.

Andrew Whyte Murray, a trades qualified electrician and father of two, has been remembered by loved ones after he died from horrific head injuries inside his sleeping bag at Jack Evans Boat Harbour on November 21, 2019.

He was 56 years old.

Kevin James Pettiford was found guilty of Mr Murray’s murder on December 6. He is currently incarcerated awaiting sentencing in February.

Pettiford’s trial heard he told police in recorded interviews he was the “Hand of Death” and he hoped to become Australia’s most prolific serial killer.

Northern NSW homelessness advocate John Lee OAM, of Tweed Heads-based charity You Have A Friend, said he was “repulsed” by Pettiford’s slaying of Mr Murray, calling it a “shocking and disgusting act”.

“For someone to come out and say no one would care because Mr Murray was homeless is appalling,” Mr Lee said.

“You’d hope they lock him (Pettiford) up for life. And by life I mean until he dies in jail. I think he would do it again (if released early).”

John Lee OAM, founder of Tweed Heads-based homelessness charity You Have A Friend. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Lee said his volunteers had encountered Mr Murray on the streets in Tweed Heads in the months leading up to his demise.

“They were trying to assist Andy with a more stable sleeping arrangement,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Murray’s former partner of 14 years, Mychelle Austyn told the Tweed Daily News Andy wasn’t just a “rough sleeper”.

“He has two adult daughters, a sister, and a brother,” Ms Austyn said.

“He had a very successful electrical business in Newcastle where he lived with his then wife and daughters.

“We met after he separated.”

She described Andy as a highly intelligent man that you could have “incredible conversations” with and who was an “extremely talented” artist.

Ms Austyn said Andy had been a strong member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for many years and devoted time to being a drug and alcohol counsellor as well as sponsoring other AA members.

Andrew Murray with partner of 14 years Mychelle Austyn. Picture: Supplied

“We met through a friend of mine that set us up on a blind date and we hit it off straight away,” Ms Austyn said.

She said at the time of meeting Andy she had a few emotional problems in her life but he made her feel good again.

“His sense of humour was hilarious, I always thought he should have done stand up. Everyone that knew him thought the same, his wit was second to none.”

Born in Engadine in Sydney, Mr Murray went to school at Bundeena and later at Cronulla High School.

“We were extremely happy and in love,” Ms Austyn said.

“We were the couple that people wanted to be.

“We had a perfect, loving relationship for the start of it, we worked together in his electrical business for a few years then out of the blue he started drinking.”

She said Andy was sober for a long time before the couple met.

“Then out of the blue he started drinking (again and) I had no idea what an alcoholic was, so when I noticed he was drinking I wasn’t concerned,” she said,

“Then it got worse. He tried so hard not to drink

“He went to rehab and AA which were successful for a period of time until it wasn’t any longer.”

Andrew Murray has been described as a “very talented” artist and “highly intelligent” man.

Mr Lee said: “Homelessness doesn’t discriminate. There’s no generic type of person that is homeless.”

The dangers of sleeping rough were “very real”, particularly in the Tweed Heads area, he said.

Incidents of late-night assaults appear commonplace.

“One poor guy copped a broken arm, a broken nose, and cuts and bruises everywhere – for what? Just being homeless,” Mr Lee said.

“I have people sleeping rough decline sleeping bags from us because they say if they are attacked, they need to get up quickly to fight or run.”

Mr Lee said attitudes towards the homeless are starting to shift in Tweed, with people coming to realise these people need help.

He said in his 20 years experience people truly do not wish to be homeless, but want a roof over their head, a stable family life and love around them.

“I believe Andy may have felt that deep down but put on a front to ease his conscience.”

Ms Austyn said Andy’s struggle eventually got the better of him and the “demon had won”.

“After 14 years we decided to call it quits,” Ms Austyn said.

“He actually chose to live on the streets as he found it interesting, so his homelessness was his choice, sadly.”

She said Andy just couldn’t and didn’t want “to fight it anymore”.

“He truly was an incredible man that lost the battle. To hear what actually happened to him in detail was very traumatic.

“I loved him for so long.”