HE had only been back in Young for a couple of days, a move he made so he could be close to his four-year-old daughter, Jaela.
But on Thursday, Corey Power was brutally murdered and robbed of the chance to watch his adorable blue-eyed girl grow up.
The 33-year-old was found severely beaten on Wombat Street, about 5am, by a woman who was walking near Lambing Flat Bridge.
His face has been described as so badly bashed that he was unrecognisable.
Paramedics worked desperately to try and save him, but he died a short time later in hospital.
Yesterday, Corey’s sister, Phia, said her family was a mess and still in disbelief.
When it came to the circumstances of his death, though, she held no doubts that foul play was at hand.
A dark and nasty side of the small community has reared its ugly head since Corey’s murder.
Some people have turned up and confronted those closest to him, telling them “he got what he deserved”.
“I believe he was murdered, without a drop of doubt,” Phia said, while driving to Victoria to be with her mum, Suzi, who has now lost her only son.
“He wasn’t the perfect person but he was a grandson, son, brother and a father and he didn’t deserve to be killed like that.
“Whoever did this would have known him.
“He’d only moved back to Young a couple of days ago after living in Canberra for six months.”
Police have confirmed the death as suspicious and say they are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.
Before living in Canberra, Corey had been in Young for almost a decade with Jaela’s mother, his then partner, who he had always remained close friends with.
Throughout his life he worked as a bricklayer and was set to start at a job in Wagga this week.
It is believed that Corey had been out partying and drinking at the pub with mates before he somehow ended up on the street alone.
“If you were his mate you were his world, that’s how he was,” Phia said.
“He had a bit of a reputation, he was rowdy and a wild child, but he had the biggest heart.”
“By far his daughter was his whole entire existence; he’d drop everything for her.
“He was such a good father; from the day she was born she was his life.
“Now because of what has happened a four-year-old girl has to go to bed every night without her dad there.”
With snow white hair, bright blue eyes and a loud and cheeky personality, Phia described Jaela to be the spitting image of her dad.
“She is very loud, she sings and dances, she is the life of the party,” she said.
“She has the mouth of a 10-year-old; you can have a full-blown conversation with her.
“She was her dad’s girl from the very first day.”
Less than a few hours after Corey’s death, the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad descended on the town.
“They’ll be here over the weekend, it will be all hands on deck,” Cootamundra’s Detective Sergeant Matt Packham said.
Police believe there is someone out there in the community who knows something which could be crucial in them moving forward with their investigations.
Anyone with information is being urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page on www.police.nsw.gov.au.
