Henry Hammond to undergo a psychiatric assessment

The homeless man charged with brutally beating and killing Melbourne woman Courtney Herron will meet with a forensic psychiatrist ahead of his next court date.

Henry Hammond has been charged with the murder of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron.

The man charged with murdering Melbourne woman Courtney Herron will undergo a psychiatric assessment before his next court date.

Henry Hammond, 27, is charged with murdering Ms Herron, 25, who was brutally beaten and killed and her body dumped at Parkville’s Royal Park in May.

At the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today a lawyer for Mr Hammond had the first mention of the case adjourned so his could see a forensic psychiatrist.

Mr Hammond appeared at the hearing via video link from Thomas Embling Hospital, the state’s high security forensic mental health facility.

The court has previously been told Mr Hammond possibly suffered from a delusional disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

He also had an historical diagnosis of ADHD.

Courtney Herron’s death was described as “horrendous bashing”.

The attack on Ms Herron, described by police as a “horrendous bashing”, left her family, friends, and Melbourne at large, in shock.

A post-mortem examination showed she had not been sexually assaulted.

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Ms Herron had struggled with drugs and mental ill health in recent years, and police believe she had been couch-surfing and rough sleeping before she was killed.

Mr Hammond was also homeless at the time.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Franz Holzer adjourned the matter until November.

Mr Hammond remains in custody.

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