Content warning: this article contains information of a sensitive nature and readers are advised to proceed with caution
A man who allegedly broke into a New South Wales aged care facility and sexually assaulted a resident has now been charged with her murder.
The accused man allegedly broke into a Bateau Bay aged care home at around 12:40am on November 15, 2023 and attacked a 90-year-old female resident.
Two days after the incident, State Crime Commands Sex Crimes Squad detectives charged the accused 34-year-old with multiple offences, including breaking and entering, aggravated sexual assault and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Speaking at a press conference shortly after the incident, Sex Crimes Squad Commander Jayne Doherty discussed the incident and the alleged offender.
“It’s horrendous that someone — any person — in the safety of their home would be attacked like this. But to attack a very defenceless old lady is beyond belief,” she said.
“We understand that the community will be in uproar over this type of offence.”
On November 28, 2023, the older female resident from the Central Coast aged care home died from the inflicted injuries. As a result, the man’s charges were recently amended to include murder and manslaughter on December 13, 2024.
According to NSW Parliamentarian Bronnie Taylor in Criminal Justice System documentation, the accused man was allegedly previously sentenced to 10 years and seven months imprisonment for a similar offence in which he raped a woman and ‘then stabbed her in the face.’
The man is due to appear before Gosford Local Court next year on February 21, 2025.
If found guilty of homicide and given the maximum sentence, the accused could face up to life in prison.
These alleged sexual assault and murder charges follow charges against another man, a former forklift driver, who pleaded guilty to breaking into a Melbourne aged care facility and attempting to rape a 90-year-old resident in 2021.
According to court documents, the man was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with a non-parole period of six years in May 2024 at County Court Victoria.
Read more about the incident and how the man broke into a Melbourne aged care facility before pleading guilty in this HelloCare article: Man pleads guilty to break-in, attempted rape of 90-year-old aged care resident.
Approximately one in 100 older Australians in the community have experienced sexual abuse, with more women affected than men as per the National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study Final Report.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
However, it’s not only sexual assault that puts older Australians at risk of harm. In addition to sexual assault, other forms of abuse can include neglect and financial harm, along with psychological and physical abuse.
One in six older Australians has reported elder abuse as per recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Almost one in five perpetrators of abuse against older Australians are adult children, however, almost one in 10 perpetrators are service providers and professional carers.
If you have witnessed abuse of an older Australian, call ELDERHelp on 1800 353 374 and your call will be directed to the elder abuse phone service in your state or territory.
If you have found the content of this article distressing, help is available. If you need mental health counselling or crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit the Lifeline website.
Shame we don’t have the death penalty in Australia.