The mayor of the NSW town reeling from Stephanie Scott's murder has extended a comforting hand to her accused killer's mother.
Leeton Shire Council Mayor Paul Maytom spent an hour with Anika Stanford, the mother of Vincent Stanford, to ensure the traumatised nurse knew she had his support.
It comes after reports of unrest and simmering tension on social media about reprisal attacks in the Riverina town.
"I have offered support if they need my support because clearly it won't help if we don't," Mr Maytom told AAP of the meeting on Tuesday.
"It made her feel more comfortable that people were showing some care towards her."
Ms Stanford was holed up in a local hotel last week after her 24-year-old son was charged with the murder of much-loved school teacher Ms Scott.
He is accused of murdering the bride-to-be on Easter Sunday, dumping her body in Cocoparra National Park and setting it alight.
Ms Stanford and her other son, Luke, have provided police with valuable information ever since they found allegedly crucial evidence in Stanford's car - blood and a camera with images of a burned body - a week ago.
It is understood they helped identify the significance of Ms Scott's final resting place, Cocoparra National Park, as a place the family had been camping.
The alleged murder has rocked the Leeton community.
Mr Maytom acknowledged there would always be anger in the town over the death but that should not be directed at Ms Stanford.
"She is living in our town and has every right to live here," he said.
"And I don't think we should be offering anything other than support."
The Stanfords moved to Leeton 13 months ago after spending a long-stint in Holland.
The family lived in a modest weatherboard rented home not far from Leeton High School, where Stanford worked as a cleaner and Ms Scott as an English and drama teacher.
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