Bold claim: A quiet regional tragedy in Victoria has left a couple dead in their home, shaking a small community that knew them well. And this is where the story gets more complicated than it first seems...
A man and a woman were discovered dead at their residence in Hernes Oak, about two hours from Melbourne. Police located Aaron Hammond and his partner Chamindika Jayawardena inside a house on McGraths Track around noon on Monday.
Neighbour Brenno Amarto recounted hearing two loud pops while he worked on an exhaust system for a truck with a business partner. He initially dismissed the sounds as ordinary, given the area’s common duck-hunting activity on the rolling hills near Moe. However, he later became convinced the noises resembled gunfire from that Saturday.
Amarto recalled his relationship with the couple: he’d known Aaron for roughly eighteen months, noting that Aaron allowed him to graze cattle and bulls on his property. He described Chami as a person who would frequently walk down their street, and he remembered them as a very lovely pair.
On Tuesday, Jayawardena’s friends joined police at the property to collect the couple’s cat. They chose not to speak to reporters.
The deceased woman would have turned 47 this coming Sunday. The couple did not have children.
This incident has unsettled the local community, which sits near the Yallourn power station where Hammond worked as a boilermaker. A neighbour reflected, “It’s sad for all families involved. It will shock everyone … we all know each other.”
Police updates indicate that they are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
If you have information that could help authorities, you’re urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
For more updates on today’s important stories, consider subscribing to The Morning Edition newsletter, which offers daily analysis and insights.
Would you react differently to this kind of tragedy if more details about potential motives or circumstances emerged? Share your thoughts in the comments below."
