A friend Courtney Herron has fought back tears while speaking of her generosity just a fortnight before she was allegedly bashed to death in a park.
Ms Herron’s body was found at Royal Park in Melbourne’s inner-north by two dog walkers on Saturday morning.
Henry Hammond, 27, is accused of killing the 25-year-old, who was couch-surfing and sleeping rough in the lead up to her death.
Jessica Bateman said she was beyond devastated to learn of her close friend’s death, describing the woman as ‘hilarious’ and ‘generous’.
Courtney Herron’s body was found at Royal Park in Melbourne’s inner-north by two dog walkers on Saturday morning
Ms Bateman spoke of her generosity while recalling the last time she saw Ms Herron two-and-a-half weeks ago.
‘I didn’t have enough for myki to get home and she gave me $10 which she didn’t need to do,’ she told The Project on Monday night.
‘She could have put that towards a bed, shelter for the night to be safe but she got me back home.’
The heartbroken friend admitted she was immensely worried for Ms Herron, who would often be forced to sleep in parks when she couldn’t find a safe place to stay.
Ms Bateman said Ms Herron was ‘absolutely’ failed by the system as she struggled to overcome a crippling drug addiction and could not find accommodation.
‘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,’ she said.
Jessica Bateman, a friend of the victim, said she was beyond devastated to learn of Ms Herron’s death, who she described as ‘hilarious’ and ‘generous’
Henry Hammond, 27, is accused of killing the 25-year-old, who was couch-surfing and sleeping rough in the lead up to her murder
Ms Herron’s body is removed from the scene in Royal Park, Melbourne, on Saturday
Host Waleed Aly questioned Ms Bateman if the incident was a reflection of violence against women or homelessness in Australia.
Ms Bateman said homelessness was the ultimate cause of Ms Herron’s death but admitted sleeping rough was more difficult for women than men.
‘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.
Mr Aly’s question comes after Victoria’s Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius urged men to take responsibility for a spate of violence against women.
Relatives of Ms Herron leave flowers at Royal Park, in Melbourne, where her body was found
Ms Bateman said Ms Herron was ‘absolutely’ failed by the system as struggled to overcome a crippling drug addiction or find safe accommodation
Four women have been killed in public in Melbourne in less than a year.
‘The critical piece is, particularly when we’re talking about violence against women, the men in our community need to take responsibility for this,’ Mr Cornelius said.
‘We need to reflect on our behaviour, we need to reflect on the behaviour of men who are known to us, we need to reflect on what we say to our sons.’
Ms Herron’s alleged murder is less than a year since 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon was killed in a nearby park in mid-June 2018.
Aiia Maasarwe, 21, suffered a similar fate to Ms Dixon after being attacked on her walk home near La Trobe University on January 15.
Both women were attacked by men they did not know and who have since been charged.
In April, Natalina Angok’s body was found dumped in Chinatown, allegedly killed by her one-time partner Christopher Allen who has been charged.
Police believe Ms Herron (pictured) suffered a violent death
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius (pictured) used the incident to remind men they had to take responsibility for the recurring instances of violence against women
‘It’s the death of a woman sadly again in our city,’ Homicide detective Andrew Stamper told reporters.
‘We get impacted as much as anyone else in the community.’
Inspector Stamper said he was ‘angry’ when these kinds of crimes occur.
‘I’m a father of a daughter, and you know, so, I feel it just the same as everyone else, when it happens,’ he said.
Inspector Stamper said that homeless people regularly sleep rough in the Royal Park.
The mother and grandmother of Ms Herron left touching tributes for her after making a heart-wrenching visit to the spot where she was allegedly murdered.
‘I love you my sweetheart Courtney,’ her grandmother wrote on flowers left at the scene.
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
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
A message left by the mother of Courtney Herron at the scene of her alleged murder. The note was attached to flowers left there in a gut wrenching scene that brought those who saw it to tears
Mourners lay flowers at the tragic scene where Courtney Herron’s life was cut short
‘You will always be in my heart. You are now in a better place with your pappou.’
Ms Herron’s mum 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.’
Upon reaching the burnt out logs where Ms Herron was allegedly so cruelly killed, the pair broke down in inconsolable grief.
They were accompanied by Ms Herron’s uncles and aunts, who could do nothing but stand back and allow the pair to shriek in agonising despair.
Ms Herron is understood to have been in regular contact with her family up until two weeks ago and had been staying with friends at the time of her attack.
Hammond fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with Ms Herron’s murder.
The court heard he has a ‘possible delusional disorder’, ADHD,
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