Henry Hammond released early from prison just before allegedly murdering Courtney Herron
The body of murder victim Courtney Herron was so badly dismembered her family were unable to view it. Now her heartbroken dad has learned his daughter’s “extremely violent” death could’ve been prevented.
Police & Courts
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A man accused of murdering Courtney Herron had weeks earlier scored an early release from jail over a “savage” attack on his girlfriend.
Henry Hammond, 27, was still meant to be behind bars serving a 10-month sentence over the August 2018 assault when he allegedly killed Ms Herron in a Melbourne park on May 25 last year.
But in April, he was released on a Community Correction Order after successfully appealing to the County Court his imprisonment was “manifestly excessive”.
The shocking revelation has left Ms Herron’s father John Herron heartbroken to know his daughter’s “extremely violent” killing could have been prevented.
He has questioned how such a violent offender was allowed back on the streets.
“It’s frankly unbelievable,” Mr Herron told the Herald Sun.
“He (Hammond) just literally walked out the gates.
“She was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her — beautiful, young, intelligent.
“And she was snuffed out. This is a guy released to kill.”
Hammond, as part of his community-based order, was meant to be under the watchful eye of authorities and undergoing drug and mental health treatment.
Presiding Judge John Carmody was so concerned about Hammond’s release back into the community he also ordered he return before him on June 14 so he could see how he was going.
In resentencing him on appeal, Judge Carmody called the attack on his girlfriend in her St Kilda home “savage”.
He said Hammond had an “inability to control his impulses”.
The court heard Hammond had walked into the woman’s kitchen, grabbed a knife and said: “You want this knife or the bigger knife?”
He then stated “I’m going to kill you” before punching the woman in the left eye, grabbing her by the throat and strangling her as she tried to flee.
His girlfriend told police that he’d been having delusions, believed himself to be Odin, the Norse god, and that dragons would return.
Judge Carmody was reassured by Hammond’s defence team and a testimony from his father, Murray Hammond, who admitted his son needed help with alcohol and drugs.
Mr Hammond Sr, in a chilling statement, told the court: “I just (want) Henry to enjoy his life and you know, don’t hurt anyone ever again.”
But in the early hours of May 25, he allegedly killed Ms Herron, after they had left a party together, and dumped her body near logs at the North Park Tennis Club in Royal Park.
Dog walkers found her badly beaten body about 9.30am.
Hammond, a father of two, was arrested and charged with her murder a day later.
Mr Herron said his daughter’s body was so badly “dismembered” that the family were unable to view her body.
“We couldn’t have an open casket because the funeral directors couldn’t piece her skull back together,” he said.
He said the family were now committed to bringing justice and closure for their “beautiful girl.”
“What has the state learnt from Jill Meagher?” Mr Herron said, noting outcry in 2012 over the Irish woman’s convicted killer Adrian Bayley being on parole at the time.
“Young women still keep getting killed.
“Everyone is concerned about violence against women — but unfortunately there is always going to be bad men who do bad things and it’s that small cohort that need to be targeted.
“If anything, Courtney would want justice.
“But most of all she would not want this whole practise to be repeated over and over again —
and I’m sure the community doesn’t either.”
Hammond has pleaded not guilty by way of mental impairment to Ms Herron’s death.
An earlier court heard he suffers from a delusional disorder and autism spectrum disorder.
He also has had a historical diagnosis of ADHD and was living a “nomadic” lifestyle.
A Supreme Court judge will determine the matter next month.
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