'Enough is enough': Courtney Herron is the 20th woman to be killed in Australia this year - SBS

Twenty-five-year-old Courtney Herron's body was found in a Melbourne park on Saturday after what police called a "horrendous bashing".

Henry Richard Hammond, 27, has since been charged with her murder.

She is the 20th woman to be killed in Australia this year, according to one count, and her death is part of a nationwide crisis of violence against women, say those campaigning for change.

"It's understandable that people are very engaged when something strange and terrible happens in a park. But we have to recognise that this violence is not unusual - this happens to women every day in their homes," co-founder of Counting Dead Women Australia Jenna Price told SBS News.

"We know that every three hours a woman in Australia is hospitalised as a result of violence from a partner, a carer or a family member."

A handout image from Victoria Police of Courtney Herron.

Courtney Herron was found dead in a Melbourne park.

AAP

Since 2012, the Counting Dead Women project has researched and collated every "femicide" nationally. Ms Herron is the 20th woman on their list in 2019.

Ms Price said it was important to keep a tally as it highlighted the broader problem Australia is grappling with.

"Each individual case doesn't provide proof of anything ... [But] this is part of a pattern and we need to address the reason this is happening."

"Courtney Herron's case is one of many parts of the same picture of violence against women."

Government action

Ms Price said the Counting Dead Women total in May 2019 is roughly the same as this point in previous years, meaning there has been little progress on addressing the issue.

She urged the re-elected Morrison government and state governments to better address violence against women.

"We think a lot about trying to educate around consent and respect by the time people are adults. That's far too late. We need to be addressing those questions when people are in preschool."

"People say to me 'oh, you don't want to talk about consent in preschool' - but what you do want to talk about is respect for other people."

A mourner is seen laying flowers for Courtney Herron.

AAP

It is a point echoed by Plan International Australia.

"Enough is enough. It's time for a fundamental change in our culture. For too long, the toxic attitudes that excuse or trivialise violence against women have gone unchallenged and have been allowed to thrive," CEO Susanne Legena said in a statement.

"The root cause of violence against women is now widely acknowledged, and that is: a deeply entrenched belief that women are not equal to men."

It’s time for a fundamental change in our culture.
- Susanne Legena, Plan International Australia

"We must stop focussing on the behaviour and circumstances of the victims of these crimes and instead talk about the perpetrators. We need to talk about how to challenge those attitudes that ultimately lead to violence and murder from forming in the first place."

Police have said the crime showed attitudes toward women need 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? ... Violence against women is absolutely about men's behaviour," Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said on Saturday.

The scene on Saturday afternoon.

AAP

And on Monday, the new Minister for Women Marise Payne said the safety of women will be a top priority for the federal government.

"We have been only too tragically reminded in the last couple of days, again in Melbourne with the appalling murder of Courtney Herron, that the safety of women is something that must concern us all," she told ABC radio.

Spate of deaths

Ms Herron's battered body was discovered by dog walkers in Royal Park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Parkville on Saturday morning.

The Greek-Australian had been couch surfing and sleeping rough for some time while struggling with drug and mental health issues.

Over the weekend friends and others laid floral tributes at the site where her body was found - just a short distance from Princes Park, where the body of aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon was found on 12 June last year.

Ms Dixon, 22, was raped and murdered.

Eurydice Dixon's body was found on a Melbourne soccer field on June 13, 2018.

AAP

Aiia Maasarwe, 21, also died after being attacked while walking home near La Trobe University on 15 January.

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 Melbourne's Chinatown, allegedly killed by her one-time partner Christopher Allen who has since been charged.

While in Sydney, Preethi Reddy was discovered stuffed in a suitcase in March with multiple stab wounds. Her ex-boyfriend Harsh Narde was a key suspect but died in a car crash.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Herron was on 14 May at St Albans when she came into contact with the police.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information about mental health is available at Beyond Blue.

Additional reporting: AAP

Let's block ads! (Why?)