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Son To Face Court Over Mother's Murder In Supermodel Gemma Ward's Avalon Home

Lanell Latta was found dead at the home on Sydney's northern beaches.
Fairfax

The man charged over the murder of his mother in a home on Sydney's northern beaches home is expected to front court on Tuesday, as tributes flow for popular hairdresser and "beautiful soul" Lanell Latta.

Latta's son, 25-year-old Joel Woszatka, has been charged with her murder after her body was found inside the $1.6 million beach house Avalon house she was was renting, owned by model Gemma Ward.

Woszatka is expected to front Manly local court on Tuesday.

"The world has lost a beautiful soul in Lanell," her friend Chris Duffy wrote in a Facebook tribute.

"She was taken from us way too early, in tragic circumstances, and I'm sure that all of us who knew her, will miss her dearly."

"Today is not about the who's and why's, today is about remembering a beautiful person. R.I.P Lanell."

The 50-year-old was remembered as ethereal, funny, kind and gentle.

"She will be missed by everyone she came in contact with," wrote another friend.

Ward's partner, photographer David Letts, told Fairfax he did not know the family well but had surfed with Latta's other son, Levon Woszatka.

"She was such a sweet woman, it's just a tragedy," Letts said.

Fairfax reports Latta had spent time in Byron Bay, but raised her family on Sydney's northern beaches.

Her father was prominent surfer and board shaper Frank Latta, who died while catching waves at Nambucca Heads on the NSW north coast in 2010.

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