–With AAP.
1. “Horrific and significant attack.” A 25-year-old woman has been charged with her mother’s murder in Sydney’s west.
A woman has told a court she couldn’t move her fingers, or wash the blood off properly, after she allegedly decapitated her mother with several knives in their western Sydney home.
Jessica Camilleri on Sunday faced Parramatta Bail Court charged with murder after she allegedly attacked her mother, Rita, in their St Clair home the previous night.
The 25-year-old did not apply for bail, with her lawyer telling the court she had significant health issues.
Magistrate Michael Price made an order for her to be assessed in hospital before her next court appearance.
Camilleri, who appeared via video link, said she couldn’t move her fingers properly after “the incident” and hadn’t been able to wash herself properly in the shower to get all the blood off.
She told the magistrate she had a number of conditions including border autism, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
Detective Superintendent Brett McFadden previously alleged the mother and daughter had been arguing before it turned violent with neighbours raising the alarm.
AAP understands the mother was decapitated but police won’t confirm these reports.
A neighbour was startled to discover police putting a tarpaulin over evidence on his front yard, he told the Daily Mail.
Det Supt McFadden said a number of knives were used in the “horrific” attack on the 57-year-old.
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This horrific murder in Sydney is something that should never have happened. The daughter had repeatedly and loudly asked for help for her diagnosed mental illness. She knew she was out of control and capable of doing something bad. Was she listened to? Absolutely not! Why not? Because mental health facilities and treatment centres are bordering on a joke in this country and elsewhere in the western world.
I wrote elsewhere over the weekend of my experience working at Morisset Psychiatric Hospital during the 70s. It was only an eight week block as part of my training to become a registered nurse. However, because I have to know everything about anything I’m involved in, I soaked up knowledge like a sponge. The section of the hospital that had the most profound effect on me was the section where those with psychiatric illness were housed. There were many patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression etc. The one thing that struck me about these people was that they were bewildered and lost. They loved being in the hospital because it was a place of refuge, an escape from a world they found confusing and frightening. They didn’t have to worry about a thing. They were fed, clothed, took part in hobbies they enjoyed and just slowly recovered. Or not in some cases.
Sure, the doors to these units were kept locked but it never struck me as though anyone was trying to escape. If they felt the need for fresh air, the staff organised a daily walk. As the hospital is in vast grounds on the shores of Lake Macquarie, this was no chore.
And then, shortly after my time at Morisset, the state government decided it would commission a report into the best way to treat mental illness. The Richmond Report found that mentally ill patients would receive better care in the community and it had the added bonus of being cheaper. Allegedly. So, the psychiatric hospitals were scaled back or closed completely and we’re now in the mess this has caused.
My question is: what price the mayhem that’s resulted? Can we put a price on lost lives, damaged lives, crime, drug abuse, suicide? As draconian as it may appear on the surface, I believe it’s time to start again with mental health. Reopen the hospitals or build new ones. The mentally ill know they need protection for themselves and those around them and I believe it’s a small price to pay for the safety and well-being of everyone.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences Joydie45. I know someone who was a Psych Nurse in a High Risk Ward (before it was closed down) and he said more or less the same thing.
I don't possess enough knowledge in the area to say what is right or wrong here, but I do appreciate hearing the views of those at the coal face though.
I’m not sure 8 weeks of work experience 4 decades ago makes you much of an expert on this.
I’m sorry! I wasn’t aware that I was claiming to be an expert. I simply stated the experiences I had and the impressions I gained, making clear that my time was limited and a long time ago. That doesn’t change the overall tone of my post. If you were to come across any psych nurses from those days, they’d absolutely agree with me. Also, my nursing career continued long after this, so this was not the only time I ever dealt with mental illness.
In closing, let me say that it’s a shame you chose to waste your time making a catty (pun intended) comment to me personally, instead of contributing to the discussion. It’s better to keep your mouth closed (or your fingers still) and be thought a fool, than to open it (or move them) and remove all doubt.
I worked in psych as a registered nurse (during the 1970s),although not in NSW, but everything Jodie45 wrote was spot on. Only now, drug addiction has compounded the problem.