Jessica Camilleri allegedly murdered her mum Rita as she was babysitting in Sydney and has complained she cannot get all the blood off herself
A woman who allegedly decapitated her mum before dropping her severed head outside a neighbour’s home has been charged with murder and will be assessed in hospital.
It is alleged that Jessica Camilleri, 25, murdered her 57-year-old mother Rita in the kitchen on their home in St Clair, Sydney, late last night.
Rita had been babysitting her grandson, Jessica’s nephew, at the time.
News.com.au said police had confirmed the four-year-old witnessed the horrific attack and was taken to hospital with a head injury.
It is alleged Jessica used a “number of knives” to kill and decapitate her mother, before dropping her head on the footpath outside their family home just after 11.30pm on Saturday.
Police said the bloody scene was “as bad as it gets”, and allege that Rita was killed in the kitchen of the home where both women lived before Jessica carried her hair two houses down the road.
The news website said it understands neighbours tried to rush to Rita’s aid after hearing a “violent argument”, only to be confronted by her head on the footpath.
Her dismembered body was found by police in the kitchen.
Appearing via video link at Parramatta Bail Court, Jessica said she needed medical attention,
“I can’t move my fingers because of the incident. My whole body is in agony,” she said.
Jessica has been sent to Nepean Hospital for a medical assessment, after telling the magistrate that she had conditions including borderline autism, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
Detective superintendent Brett McFadden said a “number of knives” were used in the assault, and described the crime as “up there with one of the most significant, most horrific scenes police have had to face”.
“There is no stepping away from the fact that this was a horrific and a significant attack, and the injuries that the victim suffered were extensive,” he said.
McFadden said police understood there was an argument between Rita and Jessica in the house, which escalated and became violent.
Although Jessica was known to police, he said there was “no information that this situation in the family home was likely to occur”.
A neighbor, Wade Dennis, said he arrived home late and saw a dozen police cars in the street.“It’s shocking,” he said.
“I’ve got a seven-year-old daughter, what if she was here?”
McFadden said police who faced the “distressing scene” did an outstanding job and are being supported by psychologists. He said the family is “distraught”.
