Codey Herrmann pens apology letter to Aiia Maasarwe’s parents

Killer rapist Codey Herrmann has written a letter to Aiia Maasarwe’s parents saying he doesn’t expect forgiveness “because I will never forgive myself” for her brutal murder and telling them not to “give in to hate”.

Codey Herrmann arriving at the Supreme Court. Picture: AAP

Killer rapist Codey Herrmann has penned an apology letter to Aiia Maasarwe’s parents, saying he does not expect them to ever forgive him.

The handwritten letter starts with Herrmann, 20, saying “I’m sorry” before telling Saeed and Kittam Maasarwe he would pray for their family every day.

“Your daughter didn’t deserve such a terrible and tragic thing to happen to her,” Herrmann wrote.

“I don’t expect forgiveness, as I will never be able to forgive myself and I will be trying to make amends for the rest of my life.

“There’s no excuse. I truly apologise.”

He the urged the Israel-based family to “love”, adding: “Don’t give in to hate like I did.”

The wannabe rapper then signed off with “Goodbye”.

Aiia Maasarwe. Picture: Instagram

Herrmann tendered the letter on the final day of his three-day pre-sentence hearing in the Supreme Court, which heard of Ms Maasarwe’s horrifying final moments at his hands as she walked home in Bundoora on January 16.

Barrister Tim Marsh argued Herrmann was “not a monster” and should not be locked up for life, as suggested by the prosecution.

“Mr Herrmann is not a monster ... he’s a young man who has led a life of extraordinary disadvantage,” Mr Marsh said.

“That he has done a monstrous thing is a stain on his conscience, and it’s a shame that he will bear, and it’s a punishment that he will serve.”

Mr Marsh said Herrmann’s moral culpability was less because of his personality disorder.

Codey Herrmann's letter to Aiia Maasarwe's parents.

Herrmann has pleaded guilty to rape and murder.

Prosecutor Patrick Bourke said Herrmann deserved to be locked up for life for what he submitted was “the worst category of murder”.

He said Herrmann’s attack on the unsuspecting student was “vicious, violent and depraved”.

“It strikes at the liberty of all, but of course in particular women, to do no more than walk down a public street in peace and safety,” Mr Bourke said.

Earlier, the court heard Herrmann was driven to kill Ms Maasarwe because he was “angry at the world”.

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Mr Bourke pointed out some of the things Herrmann was angry about included losing his money and mobile phone, being hit by friends and the death of his girlfriend years earlier.

Meanwhile, Mr Marsh, in drawing comparisons between Herrmann’s case and that of Jaymes Todd, 20, who was jailed for life with a non-parole period of 35 years for raping and murdering comedian Eurydice Dixon in June last year, revealed Todd was making a bid to appeal his sentence.

Herrmann will be sentenced on October 29.

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