Courtney Herron’s father demands justice for her brutal murder

·

Slain Melbourne woman Courtney (Konstandina) Herron, 25, would still be alive today if her killer had not won a legal appeal to walk free from jail weeks earlier, despite him being convicted of pulling a knife on his former girlfriend and trying to choke her.

This violent criminal past of Henry Hammond, the man responsible for the brutal bashing of Courtney at Royal Park in May last year, was revealed in an exclusive report on A Current Affair last night.

In what Courtney’s family have described as a double blow, Hammond won’t be jailed for killing the aspiring social worker but instead be sent to a psychiatric facility, following a decision by prosecutors to consent to a “not guilty” plea on the basis of mental impairment.

Courtney’s father John Herron has slammed the court’s decision. Photo: A Current Affair.

“My daughter would be alive now if he (Hammond) wasn’t released. It’s had a devastating impact on her family, particularly her siblings who are struggling to get through this,” Courtney’s father, John Herron, said on the program last night, adding that the justice system had failed.

“We couldn’t have an open casket funeral. Her head had to be reconstructed, such was the brutal nature of the crime.”

Court records reveal Hammond was sentenced to 10 months’ jail in December 2018 for his sickening attack on a former partner, which happened while he was out on bail for resisting police.

Just over three months later he was jailed by a magistrate, who said Hammond posed a danger to the public. The now-killer appealed to a higher court, arguing the sentence was “manifestly excessive.” 

Father's Fury

Today John Herron found out the monster who killed his daughter can't be found guilty.He won’t be convicted, and he won’t even spend another night in prison for what he did to Courtney. #9ACA

Posted by A Current Affair on Monday, 20 July 2020

A county court judge agreed, shaving months off the now-27-year-old’s sentence and placing him on a 12-month Community Corrections Order instead. 

Three weeks later, Courtney was dead. That’s despite a judge admitting the community corrections program was at odds with the killer’s free-spirited “nomadic” lifestyle, where he did not have a home base. He agreed Hammond had an “inability to control his impulse.”

Mr Herron, who is a lawyer, said he was “astounded” by the circumstances of Hammond’s early release on appeal.

“The fact he was released from prison, early, on appeal (and) went straight onto the street, consumed ice and killed my daughter, there seemed to be some deliberate intent,” he said.

“Police said he was lucid in his interview, knew what he was doing, but no psychiatric assessments say he didn’t know what he was doing.”

Courtney was buried beside her pappou. This year, her mother Maxie Antoniou held a vigil there.

Mr Herron also took aim at today’s decision by the Office of Public Prosecutions to consent to Hammond’s claim of mental impairment, meaning he can’t be found guilty and will never be convicted. Instead Hammond will be sent to a psychiatric facility, where he could be released after several years.

“He could have days trips. Be out in 10 years (on) unsupervised day trips,” Mr Herron said.

“Courtney was a really intelligent, vibrant girl. She could have put her mind to anything. She doesn’t have a voice anymore and to really have this conclude in this way, where it’s a not guilty outcome for a killer who’s provided a confession, it’s very devastating to us.”

Hammond will return to the Supreme Court for a Consent Mental Impairment Hearing on August 17.


Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greek parliamentarians promise action, but Australia’s diaspora needs more than words

By Mary Sinanidis. Four representatives of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad (consisting of 31 MPs) said they came “to listen” to the Australian...

Finalists announced for the 1st Greek Youth Creative Arts Competition 2024

The Greek Festival of Sydney has exclusively announced to The Greek Herald the finalists of its ‘1st Greek Youth Creative Arts Competition.’ The theme of the inaugural competition...

Castellorizian Association of NSW hosts Cazzie Kids Easter event

On Monday, April 15, the Castellorizian Association of NSW welcomed kids and families for their Cazzie Kids Easter event. Held at The Castellorizian, a community centre...

National Second Tier club representatives hold meetings to plan for next year’s launch

Soccer clubs across the nation are gearing up for a significant milestone in Australian football history, the launch of the National Second Tier (NST)...

Jon Adgemis’ Public Hospitality Group lists first pub for sale amid mounting debt

The owner of Public Hospitality Group (PHG) Jon Adgemis has listed his first pub on the market, following the collapse of his debt deal...

You May Also Like

Evacuations ordered as four major fires rage across Greece

Evacuations have been ordered across Greece as local authorities try to get under control four major fires raging across the country on Monday night,...

Renovation work begins on Syntagma Square makeover after 17 years

Work on the long-anticipated renovation of the lower part of Syntagma Square has finally begun, 17 years since the original plan. The project foresees the...

Kikilias: “Greece’s New GNTO Melbourne office will Boost Ties with Diaspora”

The relevant bill for the establishment of a Hellenic Tourism Organization EOT office in Melbourne, is about to be tabled in parliament, according to...