Distraught father of Courtney Herron releases a touching photo of his daughter, 25, as he breaks his silence following her horrific murder
- Courtney Herron's father released a statement to the media on Thursday
- Mr Herron described his daughter's death as an 'unimaginable tragedy'
- The 25-year-old's body was found in a park in Melbourne's inner-north, Saturday
- Police arrested and charged Henry Hammond with Ms Herron's murder
The father of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron's has broken his silence almost a week after his daughter was allegedly murdered in a Melbourne park.
John Herron released a touching photo of his 25-year-old daughter on Thursday, after her body was found under logs at Royal Park last Saturday.
The black and white photograph shows a smiling Ms Herron with long, dark hair tinged with blonde highlights.
An image of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron. The photograph was released by her father John, who has described her death as an unimaginable tragedy
Mr Herron, a lawyer, who split with Ms Herron's mum Maxie when she was just three, also issued a brief statement.
'Our beloved Courtney was the victim of a fatal assault. A person is now in custody,' Mr Herron said
'My daughter’s death is an unimaginable tragedy for our family.'
His statement comes a day after Courtney's mum, Maxie, remembered her as a loving 'but so vulnerable' daughter - and revealed her final wish before she died.
The 25-year-old's badly bashed body was found in a park in Melbourne's inner-norths on Saturday, after she reportedly attended a social event with her accused killer Henry Hammond, 27.
Ms Herron's mother described the young woman as a 'damaged bird' who struggled to overcome a drug addiction and find safe accommodation.
'She might have been 25, but she was so at risk. Believing, trusting, loving, but she was so vulnerable,' she told The Age.
Courtney Herron's (right) mother, Maxie (left), described the young woman as a 'damaged bird' who struggled to overcome a drug addiction and find safe accommodation
The 25-year-old's badly bashed body was found in a park in Melbourne 's inner-north on Saturday
A message left by Courtney Herron's grandmother at the scene. She cried to the skies as if looking for answers as to why her beloved had been taken away
The mother and grandmother of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron threw themselves onto the spot she was allegedly murdered on and cried to the sky for answers this week
Ms Herron's life turned to turmoil when she ended up in a bad crowd and begun to use ice, her mother said.
But things seemingly took a brighter turn when Ms Herron fell in love with Turkish refugee Ahmet Ozkurt in 2015, who wanted to save her from addiction.
'He tried to control the drug intake, be there for her mental health, protect her against people who she associated with, that whole horrible world. She did not fit into that and he knew that,' Maxie said.
The young couple were planning to marry, but their three-year relationship came to a sudden end when he was taken to immigration detention centre for an expired visa.
Maxie said Ms Herron was 'destroyed' and blamed herself for Mr Ozkurt's fate.
'Courtney was destroyed and said, ''I did this, I destroyed him. He doesn't deserve to be there. He loves me and he tried to help me. Please help me Mum, make this right.'' So I became his advocate,' Maxie said.
Ms Herron fell in love with Turkish refugee Ahmet Ozkurt in 2015, who wanted to save her from addiction
Mr Ozkurt spoke about his former girlfriend in video footage shared with Nine News
Maxie has written to politicians, the ombudsman and the immigration department to push for Mr Ozkurt's release. She hopes Ms Herron will look down from Heaven with her grandfather (right) to see she's made it a reality
She is fighting to for Ms Herron's final wish - to get Mr Ozkurt free from the detention centre.
Maxie has written to politicians, the ombudsman and the Immigration Department to push for his release.
She hopes Ms Herron will look down from Heaven with her grandfather to see she's made it a reality.
The refugee spoke about his 'friendly' and 'always smiling' former girlfriend from the centre, in video footage shared with Nine News.
'I still can't believe that this has happened to her,' Mr Ozkurt said.
'I'm still thinking maybe it's somebody else.'
Mr Ozkurt said Ms Herron didn't deserve to die.
'She was trying really hard … to fix her life but this drug problem, it's not easy,' he said.
Throwing their hands into the air and seemingly asking God to respond, family of the 25-year old made their way to Royal Park just before midday on Monday
Maxie said the family 'tried so hard' to help Ms Herron overcome her addiction, but it took its toll.
The last time Ms Herron saw her family was during Greek Easter and the 25-year-old briefly stayed with her grandmother before leaving abruptly in the middle of the night.
She said her daughter would sometimes be given accommodation by the department but it was usually inadequate.
Meanwhile, Ms Herron's friend Jessica Bateman has slammed the system which failed to protect her from homelessness and drug abuse.
'She was trying to get into public housing, she was trying to get on methadone or suboxone or Xanax or something that would stop the withdrawal symptoms she was going to face and the fear of withdrawal is really what kept her using,' Ms Bateman told The Project on Monday.
Ms Bateman said homelessness was the ultimate cause of Ms Herron's death but admitted sleeping rough was more difficult for women than men.
Ms Herron had been couch surfing for up to two years before her death
Ms Herron's life turned to turmoil when she ended up in a bad crowd and begun to use ice, her mother said
'Because women are more vulnerable than men being homeless and you know men can attack them, take advantage of them and it's just, especially when it concerns mental illness and drugs,' she said.
Ms Herron had been couch surfing for up to two years before her death.
Another former partner, Terrick Norris, told The New Daily Ms Herron would turn up at his door about once a month.
'She was never living on the streets, she was always couch surfing. I let her stay at mine a bunch of times and so did her mother. But she was addicted to drugs and sometimes it got a bit too much,' he said.
Maxie and Ms Herron's grandmother visited the spot where she was allegedly murdered on Monday about midday.
Mourners lay flowers at the tragic scene where Courtney Herron's life was cut short
The last time Ms Herron saw her family was during Greek Easter and the 25-year-old briefly stayed with her grandmother before leaving abruptly in the middle of the night
'I love you my sweetheart Courtney,' her grandmother wrote on flowers left at the scene.
'You will always be in my heart. You are now in a better place with your pappou.'
Throwing their hands into the air and seemingly asking God to respond with the answers, devastated relatives of the 25-year-old made their way to Royal Park.
Maxie wrote: 'To our beloved Courky, Forever in our hearts ... Find internal peace with Pappou - You will be forever safe with him. Love mum, Chris, Sian and LuLu.'
Ms Herron's uncle, who would only give his name as Peter, told Daily Mail Australia that his family was 'distraught'.
'She was the most gentle, kind-hearted person you could meet. She was just such a lovely person,' he said.
'She always had been. Just lovely. She was beautiful, she was so trusting of people.'
Hammond appeared in court with no shoes, a smile on his face and a black eye on Monday.
The court heard he had a possible autism spectrum disorder and had been prescribed ritalin for ADHD.
Magistrate Donna Bakos said police could have until August 5 to prepare the documents and ordered Hammond, of no fixed address, be remanded in custody until a committal mention on September 16.
- Nine News Melbourne on Twitter: "The former partner of murder victim Courtney Herron has spoken of his anguish. @SamCucchiara9 #9News¿ "
- 'I'm a very powerful shaman': Accused killer had been banned from restaurant
- Alleged murder victim Courtney Herron's friends blame housing afforidbility
- 'Believing, trusting, loving, but she was so vulnerable': Courtney's mother grieves
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