Murdered Pitbull Owner - Nsw -

[Alyosha]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/tahmoor-murder-of-pit-bull-owner-scott-hammond-still-a-mystery-family-appeal-for-information/story-fni0cx12-1226681737512

POLICE are convinced people in the NSW town of Tahmoor know who killed pitbull owner Scott Hammond.

Mr Hammond, 48, was found bludgeoned to death in his Tahmoor home on July 1. His funeral was held today at Forest Lawn Memorial Park at Leppington.

"We believe there people in the Tahmoor community who have informtion about Mr Hammond's murder," said Superintendent Danny Doherty.

He said while members of the community have come forward with information but other residents have not been helpful.

"But there are others who have not been forthcoming with information which could help solve this case."

Mr Hammond's mother Josophine today begged for the community to help detectives catch her son's killer. "Someone knows who has done this," she said.

"We are devastated by his death. You don't expect to bury your children."

Mr Hammond's niece niece Kylie Gillies said she wanted her uncle's killer caught. "Its gutless. Whoever has done this should stand-up," she said.

Mr Hammond had made enemies in the town south of Sydney after ordering his dogs to attack locals. He had numerous run-ins with police over drug-related incidents and for setting his aggressive pitbulls on people - including a teenage boy who was mauled in 2011.

Local shop owner Danny Forrest also suffered a severe wound after being attacked by Mr Hammond's dogs.

Mr Hammond last year pleaded guilty to three counts of causing his dog to inflict actual bodily harm and was handed a suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine after setting his pitbulls on several people in Tahmoor in 2011, leaving them with serious bite wounds.

Police have not ruled out revenge as a motive for his brutal killing.

THE family of murdered 40-year-old Scott Hammond will today join police in a renewed appeal for information following his mysterious death earlier this month.

Police discovered Mr Hammond’s battered body in the lounge room of his Tahmoor home on July 1 and police at the time said he was well known to authorities.

“He came to police attention as both offender and victim,” acting superintendent Danny Doherty said. “This is a violent murder. We believe it was an attack by someone who knew (him).”

He was served with a suspended jail sentence last year after pleading guilty to setting his pit bull dogs on to a number of people, including a teenager, around south west Sydney. Those attacks provided police with a number of possible motives, but investigations have so far proved unfruitful.

Mr Hammond will be buried today and his family are holding a joint media conference with acting superintendent Doherty and the local area commander of Camden police. “Scott’s mother and niece have flown from Queensland to attend today’s service. This will be the only opportunity for media to speak with the Hammond family,” a statement from NSW police reads.

It is understood police believe Tahmoor residents may be covering up for Scott Hammond’s killer.

Edited July 19, 2013 by Alyosha

[Salukifan]

Sounds like he was no angel on a lot of fronts.

[tdierikx]

For the guy who was murdered... violence begets violence...

For his family... you have my sympathies, and I agree that no mother should have to bury her children.

T.

[Simply Grand]

Agree, sympathies to his family however I certainly wouldn't leap to the conclusion that the dogs (or their breed) are defining factor in his death.

[Santo66]

Maybe why he had attacking Pitbull's as an aid to his own safety?

[sandgrubber]

A SUSPENDED jail sentence and $15k fines after conviction for three counts of GBH for setting his dogs on people. Sounds like those weren't his only offenses either. AND they let him keep the dogs! You gotta be kidding! If the legal system had given this bastard what he deserves, he'd still be alive today . . . in jail . . . but still breathing. Murder is wrong. But I can see why the townspeople might be protecting the murderer, if that's what is happening.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

sometimes, you reap what you sow.

[BC Crazy]

sometimes, you reap what you sow.

Hmmm I agree with this.

[Nekhbet]

Maybe why he had attacking Pitbull's as an aid to his own safety?

Well when you're into drugs you need something to protect your stash. They're the worst druggies dogs, no control, absolutely mental animals. I had the unfortunate privilege of temp testing one down here, the dog was out of control and countless stitches would have been the best case scenario if you had a run in with it.

As for him, setting your dogs on a teenager? Right piece of scum. This is what happens when people have enough of being terrorised.

[Staffyluv]

Maybe why he had attacking Pitbull's as an aid to his own safety?

Well when you're into drugs you need something to protect your stash. They're the worst druggies dogs, no control, absolutely mental animals. I had the unfortunate privilege of temp testing one down here, the dog was out of control and countless stitches would have been the best case scenario if you had a run in with it.

As for him, setting your dogs on a teenager? Right piece of scum. This is what happens when people have enough of being terrorised.

Agree with Nek...

Some people don't deserve dogs..

To set your dogs on anyone or anything is beyond disgusting..

[GeckoTree]

Owning Pit bulls he used to sitch on people is only one motive, I think it very unlikely. My best guessing game is he trod on the toes of another scumbag. Not a murder by a vengeful innocent.

[MelissaS]

This article from SMH says a paralysed Pit Bull was also found at the scene with another dog.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/revenge-killing-a-possibility-police-20130702-2p9m4.html

Revenge killing a possibility: police

Date

July 2, 2013

Read later

Emma Partridge

Crime Reporter

Police say there are many reasons why someone may have wanted Scott Hammond dead and are not ruling out a revenge killing after he used his pit bull terriers to attack and wound four people in 2011.

Mr Hammond was found savagely beaten to death in his house on the outskirts of south-western Sydney along with a paralysed pit bull on Monday afternoon.

Police said they found the 48-year-old on the lounge room floor of an Ibbotson Street house at Tahmoor after a friend called concerned for his welfare.

Camden police Acting Superintendent Danny Doherty said homicide detectives were treating the death as a targeted attack and had many motives to sift through.

''It appears that the incident was a targeted attack and we have other motives that have to be looked at,'' Acting Superintendent Doherty said. ''There are a number of lines of inquiry including the man's history in relation to previous dog attacks.''

Mr Hammond pleaded guilty to using his pit bull terriers, Chocka and Girlie, to attack and wound four people in separate incidents at Tahmoor in 2011.

He was given a seven-month suspended sentence, ordered to pay $14,336 and destroy both dogs.

Several items were seized from the house but police would not comment on the suspected weapon used to inflict serious head injuries.

Police were waiting on the results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

''But it appears he has sustained significant injuries, substantial head injuries,'' Acting Superintendent Doherty said.

Mr Hammond had been unemployed and living by himself.

Police removed two dogs from the house and are checking to see if evidence, such as DNA, was transferred to them during the attack.

Detectives are yet to establish whether the paralysed pit bull was injured before or during the attack.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/revenge-killing-a-possibility-police-20130702-2p9m4.html#ixzz2aGqVkMnA

[Kirislin]

I hope the paralysed dog recieved immediate veterinary attention.

[dogbesotted]

sheesh! used his dogs to att people on 4 ( reapeat 4) separate occasions! and still had dogs????? yet other people loose their dogs merely because they are pitbulls!!!!!

Hells bells where is the justice in all this. At least he is dead and can no longer inflict damage on other people..Sympathies to his family.

H

[mita]

A SUSPENDED jail sentence and $15k fines after conviction for three counts of GBH for setting his dogs on people. Sounds like those weren't his only offenses either. AND they let him keep the dogs! You gotta be kidding! If the legal system had given this bastard what he deserves, he'd still be alive today . . . in jail . . . but still breathing. Murder is wrong. But I can see why the townspeople might be protecting the murderer, if that's what is happening.

I was about to say the same thing.

Isn't there something in that State's law which could've been applied to ban this man from owning dogs?

If not, there should be.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I'm not surpised someone took action into their own hands when the legal system failed.

But there's a lot of people die in the illegal drug industry - that has nothing to do with dogs. There was another one near Mount Gambier last week. Illegal drugs but not dogs.

The Underbelly series would be quite different if it involved more dogs.

Edited July 28, 2013 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[MelissaS]

This article and another I read said he was ordered to destroy the dogs and was banned from keeping a dog.

Two dogs were found at his house with his body

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/17836511/murder-of-nsw-pit-bull-man-may-be-revenge/

MURDER OF NSW PIT BULL MAN MAY BE REVENGE

By Vincent Morello, AAP

Updated July 2, 2013, 5:21 pm

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: Hammond 'had many enemies'

A revenge attack may have led to the brutal bashing death of a man previously convicted for setting his pit bulls on people in three separate incidents.

Police found the body of Scott Hammond, 48, about 5.30pm (AEST) on Monday in his Tahmoor home, south of Sydney, after a friend became concerned for his welfare.

He was well known to police and understood to have many enemies.

"It is consistent with being a brutal bashing," Acting Superintendent Danny Doherty said on Tuesday.

The "targeted incident" may have been a retaliation attack on Mr Hammond.

"We're looking at that line of inquiry," he said.

The crime scene did not reveal evidence of a struggle, police said, and the incident was unusual for the semi-rural and close-knit community.

"If you stayed on the right side of him he was a good bloke," one woman told reporters at the scene.

"I know he had a lot of enemies."

Mr Hammond's body was found in his living room and a pit bull, suffering paralysis, was also found at the property.

"We don't know if that was connected to this incident," Act Supt Doherty said.

He pleaded guilty 12 months ago to using his pit bull terriers, Chocka and Girlie, to attack and wound a teenage boy and three men in three separate incidents at Tahmoor.

He was handed a seven-month suspended sentence, ordered to pay $14,336 and destroy both dogs.

Hammond was also banned from owning a dog.

He lived alone in the dilapidated home and did not appear to have any outlaw motorcycle gang connections.

Detectives are trying to establish the events leading to Mr Hammond's death but they estimate he was murdered some time on Monday.

Police are still searching for a murder weapon and are trying to determine if the killer broke in before the assault began.

The wildlife rescue organisation WIRES had been called in to remove a number of other animals.

"He had a bit of a variety of different wildlife," Act Supt Doherty said.

The local council removed the injured dog and placed it in a pound.

Detectives have yet to establish if the dog defended its owner, or if any forensic evidence, such as DNA, was transferred to the animal during the attack.

Police have yet to identify any potential persons of interest but are investigating a number of lines of inquiry.

"It's a concern that a person's been killed in this manner," Acting Supt Danny Doherty said.

"We're hoping someone in the community would know who it is."

[mita]

This article and another I read said he ... was banned from keeping a dog.

Thanks for that info, Mel.

That article also said the dogs were found with the body. So they mustn't have challenged whoever did it. I wonder if the dogs knew him/them. Like an associate of the bloke.

Also didn't seem to have a grudge against the dogs.... left them unharmed. I agree with Mrs RB ... may have been about something else entirely.

Edited July 28, 2013 by mita

[Maddy]

sometimes, you reap what you sow.

I have to agree with this.

I feel sorry for his family but.. no real pity for the "victim".

[MelissaS]

This article and another I read said he ... was banned from keeping a dog.

Thanks for that info, Mel.

That article also said the dogs were found with the body. So they mustn't have challenged whoever did it. I wonder if the dogs knew him/them. Like an associate of the bloke.

Also didn't seem to have a grudge against the dogs.... left them unharmed. I agree with Mrs RB ... may have been about something else entirely.

One of the dogs was found alive but paralysed with his body such a strange and awful story all round.