Car theft triggered countdown on Morwell teen Nick Henry’s life

As Nick Henry drove around Morwell in the van that had become his home, the countdown clock on his short life had started ticking.

Nick Henry was found with severe stab wounds and later died in hospital.

The countdown clock on Nick Henry’s short life started ticking some time last Friday evening.

Mr Henry had been mixed up in plenty of mischief over the years – some of it resulting in stints in custody – but things had suddenly become very serious.

As he drove around Morwell in the white van which had become his home in recent weeks, the town’s jungle drums were beating.

Damage to a vehicle in the RSL club carpark in the town’s centre had taken place earlier that night and whoever did it had cause to be worried by more than police attention.

Whether or not Mr Henry was responsible is not clear but it is known that he was quickly viewed as the culprit.

Nicholas Henry.

The Herald Sun has been told of angry messages in circulation stating that people were looking for Mr Henry over the theft.

At 11.30pm, he lobbed unexpectedly at the home of Morwell woman Marie Taylor.

They spoke for some time, Mr Henry at one stage saying he was concerned for his safety, although Ms Taylor said this related to an issue going back some weeks.

Ms Taylor said a dark car cruised past as they talked in the driveway, making her later ponder the possibility it was someone looking for her visitor.

About half an hour later and a few blocks away, someone caught up with Mr Henry in Buckley St.

The 19-year-old was found with severe stab wounds and died soon after in hospital, family members at his side.

“If I’d known what was going to happen, I’d never have let you leave,” Ms Taylor said on social media.

Over the next three days brothers Brayden Smart, 20, and Corey Smart, 23, along with 19-year-old Abraham Abas were arrested and charged with the killing.

Mr Abas is believed to have been a former friend and close neighbour of Mr Henry.

It is a case which has stirred strong feelings in the Latrobe Valley.

There are those among Morwell’s 14,000 citizens who were no fans of Mr Henry.

A makeshift memorial for Nick Henry in Morwell.

One local told of a resident finding the tearaway in his backyard late at night some time ago.

There is talk of car and motorcycle thefts, drug use and other law-breaking.

Suggestions have also emerged that he was kidnapped over a debt weeks before the tragic events of last Friday.

Just before leaving her house, he showed Ms Taylor a mark on his mouth which he said was the result of a punch from an older thug.

But those who hadn’t been crossed by Mr Henry appear to have genuinely liked him.

For all his sins, many people found him an engaging larrikin with a disarming smile.

A justicefornick hashtag on social media has been used by hundreds of people in the murder’s aftermath.

Some have reacted angrily to what happened and there has been talk of payback, some of it indiscriminately directed.

“Emotions are running high,” one local said.

“There’s loads of threats flying around.”

A makeshift memorial site in Morwell has steadily grown over the past week, as family and friends grieve.

Dozens of bunches of flowers, photos, handwritten messages and items of clothing have been left at the memorial site.

Also placed there are tins of alcohol, cigarettes, sneakers and a Rage Against the Machine T-shirt.

A young Nick Henry with sister Taylor Henry. Picture: Supplied

Mr Henry’s parents said they wanted justice for their son’s brutal murder.

“No one deserves this. He was murdered,” his mother Karen said.

Mr Henry was a brother to six and enjoyed motorbikes, cars and footy.

His brother Adam, who held Nick’s hand in hospital as he took his last breath, said he was struggling with the loss.

“The reality hasn’t hit,” Adam Henry said.

“I want this to be a lesson. Stop doing the f...ed up s..t.”

He described his brother as a “daredevil”.

Sister Taylor Henry said Nick “didn’t deserve” to die.

“He is never going to get the chance to have his own family now,” she said.

“He will never get to live life normally. Our family is never going to be the same.

“Having to deal with the loss of a son and brother like Nick in such horrendous circumstances is unimaginable.

“I hope the people who did it get what they deserve. They are still alive and my brother is gone.”

A memorial page on Facebook set up this week has attracted close to 600 members who have shared happy memories of their time with Mr Henry.

Video was shared of him driving his white van on Friday, just hours before his death.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral costs, with more than 70 donors contributing at least $4000.

Anyone with information on Mr Henry’s death can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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