Man charged with murder over grandmother Shirley Kidd’s death

A young man has fronted court accused of murdering his grandmother after she was found with horrific injures at a Bacchus Marsh property.

Police at the Darley home where Shirley Kidd died. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A young man accused of killing his grandmother in her Bacchus Marsh home has fronted court charged with murder.

Hayden Kidd, 20, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday after allegedly murdering his 68-year-old grandmother, Shirley Kidd.

Shirley Kidd was found with “critical injuries” near the carport of her Egan Court home at Darley about 10.30pm on Saturday night.

No details of the alleged killing were aired during the brief administrative hearing.

Hayden Kidd appeared via video link from custody wearing white prison clothing, with his hands clasped together in front of him.

Shirley Kidd was found with ‘critical injuries’ at her Bacchus Marsh home.

Her grandson, Hayden Kidd, 20, has been charged with her murder.

He was silent and motionless during the hearing.

The court heard it was his first time in custody and he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin ordered him to be seen by a custody nurse upon his arrival to prison.

No application for bail was made and he will reappear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 17.

Emergency services were called to an Egan Court home in Darley about 10.30pm on Saturday after reports of an incident.

Police found Ms Kidd with critical injuries but she could not be revived and died at the scene.

Two days before the alleged murder, Hayden Kidd uploaded an eerie social media post.

The post was a screenshot of a TikTok video with text reading: “Family isn’t what it used to be.

“There was a time when you could go to your grandmas (sic) house to eat, hang out with the family and have a good time.

“Now everyone chooses who they want to deal with.

“Aunt’s and uncles choose which kids to be proud of.

“Brothers and sister treat friends more like family.

“Cousins talk about each other.

“Grandparents spend time with certain grandkids.

“And the only time you see everyone is at a funeral.”

A screengrab of a Tik Tok video posted by Hayden Kidd on Facebook

Friend Lisa Miller told the Herald Sun Ms Kidd was always cheerful and positive.

“Not only was she a loving mum but, my god, she devoted her time and love to her grandkids,” she said.

“She would often be at the school picking up or dropping off one of her grandbabies (sic).”

Ms Miller said Ms Kidd’s family was “broken beyond belief”.

“I don’t know how they will ever deal with this loss,” she said.

“Nothing was ever too much for her to help them, it’s horrific.”

Tributes have continued to flow on social media with Ms Kidd remembered as a “hero”.

“Our family and friends have lost a dear loved one,” Rebecca Kidd wrote on Facebook.

“We will cherish all the memories we had … your grandkids will always know you as the hero and that you had a pure heart of gold.

“May your beautiful soul rest in paradise.”

The homicide squad gathering clues. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A young man was arrested over the incident. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Neighbour Chris Ward said he heard a man and a woman screaming just before police and ambulances arrived on Saturday.

“It was just screaming, like it was loud,” he said.

“It just sounded like arguing.

“I could work it out. It was definitely a male and female like arguing.”

Mr Ward said the screams were so loud, he was worried they would wake his elderly grandparents.

He heard the arguing last about five to 10 minutes.

The Darley local was shocked by the events, which had rocked the residents of the cul-de-sac.

“I brushed it off as someone arguing and just went back to doing what I was doing,” he said.

“I didn’t think much of it.”

Resident Maria Brown said she heard one high-pitched scream ring out about 10.30pm.

The woman was found with critical injuries and could not be saved. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

She had earlier heard a car running for about half an hour.

“I didn’t hear any other noises really,” she said.

“Thinking back to it now, it probably was a yell of distress.”

Concerned neighbours spent much of Sunday looking on as police combed the sprawling property, on a steep hill overlooking Lerderberg Gorge.

As forensic police left the scene, shocked residents began leaving flowers in a makeshift memorial.

“We are so sorry. You didn’t deserve this,” a note on a bunch of flowers left at the home said.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.