Courtney Herron’s family arrive at the scene of her murder ahead of a vigil in her memory 

Devastated family members have arrived at the scene of Courtney Herron’s alleged murder ahead of an evening vigil in her memory.

Thousands have braved the rain in Melbourne’s Royal Park for a silent vigil for the 25-year-old, who was allegedly horrifically bashed to death and left in the park last week.

Heartbreaking photos show Ms Herron’s family weeping as they mourn the death of the young woman, with flowers and tributes laid on the spot where her body was found.

Amid the rain, mourners have offered their condolences to Ms Herron’s family with tears and hugs, as the young woman’s mother thanked people for attending the vigil. 

Heartbreaking scenes show the devastated family of homeless woman Courtney Herron at Melbourne’s Royal Park for a silent vigil on Friday

Devastated family members have arrived at the scene of Courtney Herron's alleged murder ahead of an evening vigil in her memory

Devastated family members have arrived at the scene of Courtney Herron’s alleged murder ahead of an evening vigil in her memory

Thousands have gathered in Melbourne's Royal Park for a silent vigil for the 25-year-old, who was allegedly horrifically bashed to death and left in the park last week

Thousands have gathered in Melbourne’s Royal Park for a silent vigil for the 25-year-old, who was allegedly horrifically bashed to death and left in the park last week 

Tributes are seen ahead of the Vigil for homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne

Tributes are seen ahead of the Vigil for homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne

Posters, notes, flowers and gifts have been laid by mourners ahead of the silent vigil on Friday evening

Posters, notes, flowers and gifts have been laid by mourners ahead of the silent vigil on Friday evening

Ms Herron’s grandmother was seen kissing a large framed photo of the 25-year-old and a poem was read on the family’s behalf.

Organisers of the vigil wrote on Facebook: ‘All people deserve safety in this world. Sadly, once again we must mourn the loss of an innocent woman in a place known to so many of us.’

‘Courtney Herron was an innocent woman who was allegedly taken from our world violently and prematurely. We cannot simply allow her death to go unnoticed and unmarked.’

‘Once again we must stand together in remembrance of Courtney Herron and of the countless others who have been taken too soon. We cannot allow this pattern to continue. 

‘These women are innocent. They are allegedly murdered simply for being women. We cannot allow this to go unacknowledged or unmarked. We must join together to remember those we have lost and protect those who live in fear and in danger every day.’

Organiser Jessamy Gleeson told ABC Radio they see the vigil as an appropriate space to honour Ms Herron’s life. 

‘It’s a way for us, as well, to generally draw attention to the fact that we keep doing these vigils. It’s not a one-off for us,’ she said.

‘Our vigils are organised for … every woman and child that is murdered at the hands of a man in Australia.

‘At the moment, we’re doing vigils almost every week.’

The hour long vigil began at 5.30pm at the place where her body was found by dog walkers on Saturday.

Mourners gather for the Vigil for slain homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne on Friday evening

Mourners gather for the Vigil for slain homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne on Friday evening

Mourners were given candles as they paid respects to Courtney Herron at Melbourne's Royal Park on Friday evening in the rain

Mourners were given candles as they paid respects to Courtney Herron at Melbourne’s Royal Park on Friday evening in the rain

Ms Herron's body was found badly bashed at the Melbourne park on Saturday, after she reportedly attended a social event with her accused killer Henry Hammond

Ms Herron’s body was found badly bashed at the Melbourne park on Saturday, after she reportedly attended a social event with her accused killer Henry Hammond

Mourners pay their respects at Royal Park in Melbourne at the scene where Ms Herron's body was found

Mourners pay their respects at Royal Park in Melbourne at the scene where Ms Herron’s body was found

Heartbreaking scenes show family members gathering at the make shift memorial of Courtney Herron in Melbourne

Heartbreaking scenes show family members gathering at the make shift memorial of Courtney Herron in Melbourne

Ms Herron’s body was found badly bashed at the Melbourne park on Saturday, after she reportedly attended a social event with her accused killer Henry Hammond.

The 27-year-old has been charged with the alleged murder of Ms Herron and remains in custody, with his case due to return to court on September 16.

Courtney’s father, a lawyer named John, has remained mostly silent about his role in his daughter’s life.

‘It’s just very difficult. I can barely speak about it,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

In a statement released on Thursday, he said his ‘beloved daughter’ was a victim of ‘fatal assault’. 

‘My daughter’s death is an unimaginable tragedy for our family. Please respect our right to grieve in private,’ it read.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp is seen at Royal Park on Friday evening for the vigil of murdered 25-year-old Courtney Herron

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp is seen at Royal Park on Friday evening for the vigil of murdered 25-year-old Courtney Herron

Messages at makeshift shrine are seen at Royal Park in Melbourne, where Ms Herron was killed

Messages at makeshift shrine are seen at Royal Park in Melbourne, where Ms Herron was killed

Heartbreaking scenes of Ms Herron's family weeping as they mourn the death of the young woman

Heartbreaking scenes of Ms Herron’s family weeping as they mourn the death of the young woman

Flowers and tributes have been laid at the spot where Courtney Herron's bludgeoned body was found last week

Flowers and tributes have been laid at the spot where Courtney Herron’s bludgeoned body was found last week

A poem was read out loud at Melbourne's Royal Park for Courtney Herron, less than a week after her body was found in the same area

A poem was read out loud at Melbourne’s Royal Park for Courtney Herron, less than a week after her body was found in the same area

Ms Herron is the fourth young woman to be allegedly killed in a public Melbourne place in the past 12 months, including the June rape and murder of aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, in a neighbouring suburb. 

The death sparked widespread calls for action to improve public safety for women. 

Even police officers have said the horrific crime showed that attitude towards women in Australia needed to change.

‘What is it in our community that allows some men to think that it’s still OK to attack women or take from women what they want?’ Victorian police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said on Saturday.

‘Violence against women is absolutely about men’s behaviour.’ 

‘The safety of women is something that must concern us all,’ federal Minister for Women Marise Payne said, speaking about Ms Herron’s death. 

People were seen holding candles and braving the rain and cold weather as a silent vigil was held for slain woman Courtney Herron

People were seen holding candles and braving the rain and cold weather as a silent vigil was held for slain woman Courtney Herron

Tributes are seen ahead of the Vigil for slain homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne

Tributes are seen ahead of the Vigil for slain homeless woman Courtney Herron, at Royal Park in Melbourne

Tragic images show family members weeping as they gather at the makeshift memorial for Courtney Herron on Friday

Tragic images show family members weeping as they gather at the makeshift memorial for Courtney Herron on Friday

Mourners have paid their respects to the young woman as flowers and tributes sit at the spot where her body was found

Mourners have paid their respects to the young woman as flowers and tributes sit at the spot where her body was found

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk