Conspiracy of silence in murder of Scott Hammond Scott Hammond. HE was unpopular - even hated - among some in his small town of Tahmoor, southwest of Sydney. Now, nearly three weeks after Scott Hammond was bashed to death in his home, police believe many in the small community know the identity of the killer or killers - but have chosen not to come forward. Mr Hammond was well known to police as both an offender and as a victim of a number of bashings. Mr Hammond pleaded guilty 12 months ago to using his pit bull dogs to attack and wound a teenage boy and three men in three separate incidents. On July 1, he was bludgeoned to death. Police believe revenge could have been a motive for the killing. "We are investigating all those avenues," Local Area Commander Superintendent Danny Doherty said. What we do believe is someone in Tahmoor has information and while many in the community are cooperating there are others who are not being very forthcoming. Ahead of Mr Hammond's funeral in Sydney yesterday, his mother and niece issued a plea to the Tahmoor community to come forward with information about the killing. They are convinced someone in the town of fewer than 5000 is responsible. "Stand up and come forward," Mr Hammond's niece Kylie Gillies said yesterday. It was a gutless thing to do and you should be held accountable for it. His mother Josephine said she was sure there were people who could help solve the murder. "I am asking you to talk to the police and help find who did this," she said. Both women said they knew nothing of Mr Hammond's troubles with locals. "He was family and we loved him," Ms Gillies said. She said they never knew any other side to him except as an uncle and a person who loved family and animals.