‘Giving Courtney a voice’: Metaxia Antoniou wants coronial inquest into daughter’s death

Courtney Herron’s grieving mother has welcomed the news of a coronial investigation underway into her daughter’s death.

Metaxia Antoniou with her daughter Courtney Herron in past happy times

Metaxia Antoniou with her daughter Courtney Herron in past happy times. Source: supplied/Metaxia Antoniou

As a Coroners Court spokesperson confirmed, State Coroner Judge John Cain received the brief of evidence on 5 February.

“His Honour is currently reviewing the brief to determine the future course of the investigation and if an inquest will be held,” they said.

Courtney Herron’s mother, Metaxia Antoniou told SBS Greek a public coronial inquest could make a difference protecting other women in the future.
“It will finally give Courtney here voice to be heard, and hopefully make fundamental changes to protect others, particularly vulnerable women.”
Ms Antoniou believes that by examining “the questions of the how and why” her daughter’s murder occurred, the inquest “will address the systemic failures of mental health, corrections and so much more.”

The development is made known in the week that Victoria's Supreme Court committed Courtney Herron’s killer, Henry Hammond to a nominal term of 25 years at the Thomas Embling Hospital, a secure mental health facility.

Hammond - who had bashed to death the 25-year-old Greek Australian at Royal Park in May 2019 – had been found not guilty of murdering her, following a court ruling that he was in the midst of a relapse of his schizophrenic illness at the time.

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By Zoe Thomaidou, Emma Papaemmanouel

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‘Giving Courtney a voice’: Metaxia Antoniou wants coronial inquest into daughter’s death | SBS Greek