Family of accused killer breaks silence as donations flood in for Courtney Herron’s funeral

Courtney Herron’s accused murderer once appeared on The Footy Show’s popular Street Talk segment, telling Sam Newman he was a “very powerful shaman”.

Video has emerged of accused killer Henry Hammond in a 2018 Footy Show segment filmed in Melbourne’s Hosier Lane in which he claims he is a shaman.

The man accused of murdering Melbourne woman Courtney Herron can also be seen in the footage dancing and playing a recorder.

“I’ve put bamboo through my nose … because I’m a very powerful shaman.” Mr Hammond told Footy show hosts Sam Newman and Shane Crawford.

Mr Hammond is accused of bludgeoning Courtney to death in Melbourne’s Royal Park overnight Friday.

Earlier today, the family of Mr Hammond broke its silence saying they were in “deep shock” over the death of Courtney.

“Our deepest sympathy and compassion goes out to Courtney’s family and friends on their heartbreaking loss,” the Hammond family said in a statement.

“Henry Hammond grew up loved by his family and friends. For many years he has struggled with mental illness, more recently drug issues and homelessness.

“We ask the media to please respect our privacy as we try to process this tragedy. Our hearts go out to Courtney’s family and friends.”

It comes as more than $8000 has been raised to cover Courtney’s funeral costs.

A fundraising page, launched by the Melbourne Homeless Collective yesterday, aims to raise $10,000 to cover all costs for her family.

“Courtney had no safe place to call home and became the victim of yet another crime of violence against women,” the post reads.

“She was taken from her family far too soon.

Courtney Herron was found dead in Royal Park.

Ms Herron was described as having a “heart of gold.”

“All money donated will be given directly to Courtney’s family to help give Courtney the proper funeral service her family plan for her and hopefully alleviate some of the added pain of burying a loved one taken in such brutal circumstances.”

Strangers have generously donated to the fund.

Many people have left comments about how much the death has upset them and how more needs to be done to protect homeless women.

News of the fundraiser comes as it’s revealed that Courtney and her accused killer,

Henry Hammond, left a city gathering together just hours before she was bludgeoned to death in a park, police say.

Friends who were at the party on Friday night alerted police to the link, after seeing media reports that Ms Herron had been murdered.

The vital clue sparked a CBD manhunt leading police to Mr Hammond on Bourke St early on Sunday evening.

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Mr Hammond did not have a phone or bank cards, making him especially hard to track down. He was arrested without incident.

Former colleagues say he started abusing drugs heavily after his fiancee left him a few years ago.

Courtney’s devastated mum lays flowers at the logs where her body was found. Picture: Sarah Matray

The 27-year-old father of two appeared briefly at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday after being charged with the murder of Ms Herron, 25.

His lawyer, Bernie Balmer, said Mr Hammond possibly suffered from a delusional disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and had a ­historical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity ­disorder.

Ms Herron’s body was found near the North Park Tennis Club in Royal Park, close to Elliott Ave, by dog walkers about 9.30am on Saturday.

She had been the victim of a “horrendous bashing”, detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said.

Magistrate Donna Bakos was told CCTV footage would form part of the case against Mr Hammond.

Prosecutors applied for extra time to prepare their brief of evidence, saying pathology reports could take up to 15 weeks, but the application was refused.

The brief of evidence must be served to Mr Hammond’s lawyers by August 5.

Henry Hammond.

Mr Hammond remained silent during the brief hearing and was remanded until his next scheduled court hearing in September.

Mr Hammond grew up in the Blue Mountains and attended private high school Oxford Falls Grammar on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and later Bradfield Senior College in Sydney.

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He moved to Melbourne a few years ago, and for a time lived in a red van in a carpark in Thornbury.

Mr Hammond reportedly told people he was Odin, a mythological Norse god, and a “dragon god”, and he wore a piece of bamboo through his nose.

He was also a volunteer at cafe Lentil As Anything.

Cafe manager Dayle Lee Jones was devastated to hear the news of Mr Hammond’s arrest.

It was a second shock for the cafe’s staff: Melbourne woman Eurydice Dixon, 22, who was murdered last June, had also been a volunteer at the cafe.

Lentil As Anything volunteer Luan Cartwright, who was a long-time family friend of Ms Dixon, and a one-time friend to Mr Hammond, said he was shattered by the news over the latest death.

“I watched the decline in his (Mr Hammond’s) health,” she said.

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