This is the heartbreaking moment a close friend embraces Charlise Mutten's biological father as he comes to terms with his little girl's death.
Pictures emerged of Sydney gym owner Wayne Earl embracing his mate Scott Hensby outside Hybrid Impact Training in Liverpool in the city's south-west on Thursday.
The supportive gesture came two days after the body of Mr Hensby's nine-year-old daughter was found inside a barrel near the Colo River in the NSW Blue Mountains.
Charlise's stepfather Justin Stein, 31, has been charged with her murder.
Bizarrely, Mr Hensby has been targeted by cruel trolls in the wake of his daughter's death - something his friend Mr Earl hit out at.
A close friend of Charlise Mutten's biological father Scott Hensby has offered him a supportive hug as he comes to terms with his little girl's horrific death
Mr Earl told Daily Mail Australia he had known Scott Hensby since childhood, when his family was living in Sydney.
Mr Earl, a Muay Thai and K1 fighter who owns Hybrid Impact Training, said 'I grew up with Scott in Sydney - (we were) childhood mates'.
He agreed some of the comments which had been posted on Mr Hensby's Facebook page were appalling but said 'that's social media'.
The gym owner shared the picture of the friends hugging online and praised the father's strength in a time of unimaginable grief.
'Hugging a mate who just lost a child is the toughest hug I've ever given someone… this bloke is stronger than me that's for sure,' he wrote.
The father on Wednesday posted a touching tribute to his daughter on social media, saying she had 'captured the hearts of the nation'.
'I love you so much. I miss you every day!' he wrote.
'We will get the answers for you baby, and we will honour you properly. This is not the end of you or your story Charlise.'
Homicide detectives have yet to identify a motive behind the alleged murder.
Charlise is pictured with her biological father. The friend Wayne Earl agreed some of the comments which had been posted on Mr Hensby's Facebook page were appalling but said 'that's social media'
Homicide detectives are still struggling to find a motive for the alleged murder of nine-year-old schoolgirl Charlise Mutten
Stein, who was educated at the prestigious Cranbrook School in Sydney's eastern suburbs and is engaged to Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten, has been charged with her murder.
NSW Police homicide squad detectives are still trying to establish why Charlise was in the care of Stein between January 11 and January 12, when she died.
The girl and her mother had been staying at the Riviera Ski caravan park at Lower Portland on the Hawkesbury River, about a 90 minute drive from where Stein lived at Mount Wilson.
Detectives have yet to identify a motive behind the alleged murder after charging the girl's stepfather Justin Stein, 31, (pictured) over her death on Wednesday
Antiques dealer Annemie Stein (above) defended her accused son Justin Stein and said she didn't approve of
