The Situation In September 2016 - Offender to Face a Trial

Outside court, Hemi's mother Kerri-Ann said watching the proceedings had left her feeling "broken". "He was our boy. He had big brown eyes, he was always happy," she said. Richard Goodwin said his granddaughter, Hemi's sister who is now 4, still asked her parents, Shane Burke and Kerri-Ann Goodwin, if they could go to the hospital to pick up Hemi. "They were inseparable, they were best mates," Mr Goodwin said. "She misses him so much... She's got his little car, she's got his beanbag. "It's changed her heaps. She doesn't trust people." Father Shane Burke said that "Hemi was just full of smiles". Mr Goodwin teared up as he showed media photos and videos of the little boy. "(He was) a beautiful, cheerful kid. Always happy and smiling," he said.