Grim warning from lawyer dad of Courtney Herron who was brutally murdered in a ... trends now
A week after thousands took to the streets to protest violence against women, the father of a young woman brutally killed almost five years ago has called for changes to the 'chaotic' criminal justice system.
Twenty-eight women have been violently killed since the start of the year, according to data from advocacy group Destroy the Joint's project Counting Dead Women.
John Herron's daughter Courtney was killed in 2019 at Melbourne's Royal Park by Henry Hammond, who beat her to death with a branch for 50 minutes in the early hours of Saturday, May 25.
He dragged Ms Herron's body into a clearing, covered it with leaves and a tree branch, and placed a large piece of concrete on her face.
Ms Herron's body was found by dog walkers a few hours later.
She was just 25 years old at the time.
John Herron criticised politicians for their lack of action in preventing violence against women
Hammond was found not guilty of murder because he had schizophrenia at the time he killed Ms Herron.
He was instead ordered to complete a 25-year custodial supervision order in a psychiatric facility.
On Friday, Mr Herron, who works as a country lawyer and assists victims of domestic violence and their families, criticised politicians for their lack of action in preventing violence against women.
He said a raft of changes to the criminal justice system were required, including law reform, support for victims, stricter bail laws, and administration of intervention orders.
'The
