Courtney Herron's accused killer volunteered at the SAME free vegan cafe that Eurydice Dixon worked at before the comedian was raped and murdered in a Melbourne park
- Henry Hammond allegedly bludgeoned Ms Herron to death in Melbourne
- He previously volunteered at Lentil As Anything in Thornbury for meals
- Eurydice Dixon also volunteered at the same cafe before she was murdered
The man charged with the murder of Courtney Herron once volunteered at the same vegan cafe that slain comedian Eurydice Dixon used to work at.
Henry Hammond allegedly bludgeoned Ms Herron to death in a park in Melbourne after the pair left a party together on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old homeless father-of-two moved to Melbourne after leaving his family and a prestigious boys school in Sydney's northern beaches.
For a brief period he volunteered at Lentil As Anything, a cafe and grocery store in Thornbury that helps people from all walks of life by offering no set menu prices and encouraging customers to 'contribute in any way they can'.
Henry Hammond allegedly bludgeoned Ms Herron to death in a park in Melbourne after the pair left a party together on Saturday night
Coincidentally, aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon (pictured) also volunteered at the cafe before she was raped and murdered on her way home from a comedy performance in June 2018
Many volunteer their services in exchange for a meal.
But the cafe's manager, Dayle Lee Jones, told Daily Mail Australia his position as a volunteer was short-lived.
'Henry was very well known to us,' Ms Jones said.
'I tried working with him as a volunteer, he was coming in as a patron and when we have people come in on a regular basis we really try to engage with them and see if there is a way they can pitch in and help out.
While Hammond tried his hand at the hospitality industry, Ms Jones eventually decided it was in the best interests of staff, patrons and Hammond himself to put an end to the arrangement.
But Thornbury cafe's store manager, Dayle Lee Jones, told Daily Mail Australia the volunteering position was short-lived
Henry Hammond allegedly bludgeoned Ms Herron (pictured) to death in a park in Melbourne after the pair left a party together on Saturday night
For a brief period he tried his hand at a volunteering position at Lentil As Anything, an inclusive cafe and grocery store that helps people from all walks of life by offering no set menu prices and encouraging customers to 'contribute in any way they can'
Coincidentally, aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon also volunteered as a barista at the cafe before she was raped and murdered on her way home from a comedy performance in June 2018 in a separate incident.
Her body was found on a soccer field in Princes Park in Carlton North, inner Melbourne, just a 20 minute walk from where Ms Herron's body was found in Royal Park.
Ms Jones said while the pair both frequented the cafe at the same time, they didn't know each other.
By the time Ms Dixon began her tenure at the cafe, Hammond was no longer a regular customer.
'He lived in a van close to our building so was always in the area. I can't say whether or not they did cross paths but by that point he wasn't coming in the building.'
Hammond was known to friends as coming from a good family who had received an education at the Bradfield Senior College in northern Sydney, a far cry from the dishevelled, shoeless and homeless man who faced court
Ms Dixon's body was was found on a soccer field in Princes Park in Carlton North, inner Melbourne, just a 20 minute walk from where Ms Herron's body was found in Royal Park
Hammond was convinced that he was Odin, a mythological Norse god, while a former acquaintance said he told her he believed he was Jesus
Hammond was convinced that he was Odin, a mythological Norse god, while a former acquaintance said he told her he believed he was Jesus.
When Hammond appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with Ms Herron's murder the court heard he has a 'possible delusional disorder', a possible autism spectrum disorder and had been prescribed Ritalin for his ADHD.
'The last thing I knew his mum called a couple of months later looking for him because he had disappeared, and then next thing we hear is this.'
The court heard Hammond has a 'possible delusional disorder', a possible autism spectrum disorder and had been prescribed Ritalin for his ADHD
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said extreme violence was inflicted on Ms Herron (pictured)
Ms Herron's body is removed from the scene in Royal Park, Melbourne, on Saturday
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said extreme violence was inflicted on Ms Herron on the night of her death.
'The level of violence involved here was extreme in my view,' he told reporters on Sunday.
'This was a particularly, particularly horrendous attack.'
Investigators believe Ms Herron was bashed just hours before her body was found about 9.25am on Saturday.
Ms Herron had been couch surfing and sleeping rough for some time while struggling with drug and mental health issues, Inspector Stamper said.
Investigators believe Ms Herron was bashed just hours before her body was found about 9.25am on Saturday
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