A man accused of breaking into a nursing home and raping an elderly woman has been charged with her murder, a year after the alleged crime.
Brett Anthony Crawford, 34, allegedly broke into an aged care facility in Bateau Bay on the New South Wales Central Coast shortly after midnight on November 15, 2023 and attacked the 90-year-old woman. in his room.
She suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital after raising the alarm to staff. He died 13 days later.
Arrested five days after the alleged attack, Crawford was initially charged with aggravated breaking and entering to commit a felony, inflicting actual bodily harm with intent to commit sexual intercourse and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.
He remains in custody and on Friday his charges were increased to include murder and manslaughter.
Police allege he also stole some of the woman’s belongings before leaving the nursing home.
Sexual Crimes Squad commander Jayne Doherty previously said the elderly woman was left traumatized after the attack and suffered injuries to her arms, legs and head.
Officers believed the woman’s cries for help had been muffled by the bedding and that she had been pinned to the bed during the sexual assault.
Brett Anthony Crawford (pictured), 34, allegedly broke into an aged care facility in Bateau Bay on the New South Wales Central Coast shortly after midnight on November 15, 2023 and attacked to a 90-year-old woman in her room.
He remains in custody and on Friday his charges were increased to include murder and manslaughter.
National MP Bronnie Taylor revealed under parliamentary privilege, after the woman’s death, that Crawford was recently released after serving 10 years in prison for a similar offence.
Crawford, then known as Brett Ralph, had been told to leave a house party before bursting in and raping a woman at knifepoint, he said.
He stabbed the woman in the face after raping her, Taylor said.
Crawford is due back in court on February 21.
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National Support Service for Reparation and Sexual Abuse 1800 211 028