An ice addict who attacked a sleeping mother-of-two with a hammer, leaving her with permanent brain damage and paralysis, admitted to police he was “spitting” so the victim survived, a court heard.
Krystal Lee Begg, 30, appeared in Wyong Local Court via video link this week where she pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm by wounding with intent to murder Sara-Jane Christensen on the NSW Central Coast on July 3 last year.
Emergency services arrived at the public commission’s compound in Ourimbah to find shocking scenes, where Ms Christensen was found lying on the living room floor with an open wound to her head and “her brain was visible”, according to an agreed set of facts.
The court heard that Begg initially denied any involvement in the attack but eventually confessed after a month in custody in connection with another home invasion.
Begg told police she was “devastated” that Christensen had survived the attack, which was motivated by the victim sleeping with Begg’s boyfriend a year earlier, causing the couple to split up.
However, Begg told officers that while there was some “jealousy” between her and Ms Christensen, they had otherwise remained friends.
However, on three occasions Begg, who smoked ice every few days, expressed regret to police for not killing Ms Christensen. The defender of the central coast reported.
“Well, I had to have a bit of fun, I could have cracked his skull, couldn’t I? It wasn’t right to spit on him, it was devotion, considering what I did it for,” he told officers.
Krystal Lee Begg, 30, has pleaded guilty to the savage hammer attack on a young mother that left her brain damaged and paralysed.
Begg on another occasion said he was “spittin’ that the b***h ain’t dead.”
On the night of the attack, Begg, who lived in the same Ourimbah housing complex, broke into Ms Christensen’s unit and assaulted her as she slept on a sofa.
Following the arrival of emergency services, Ms Christensen was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition with multiple skull fractures.
He spent the next three months in hospital, where a titanium plate was inserted to replace his shattered skull.
Ms Christensen still requires round-the-clock care and assistance, including a hoist and two helpers to get her in and out of bed.
He has been unable to walk since the attack and spends time out of bed in a wheelchair.
Sara-Jane Christensen, 35 (pictured above) now requires 24-hour care and has been unable to walk since the attack.
Ms Christensen (pictured after the attack) is now paralysed on the left side of her body.
TO Gofundme page Ms Christensen’s aunt at the time said “the attack had left her paralysed on the left side of her body”.
“She is a strong woman and survived this cowardly attack, but there is a long road to recovery,” the page reads.
Begg previously pleaded guilty to destruction of property, intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the separate invasion of Wyong’s home.
She will appear back in Gosford District Court on September 26 for sentencing on both charges.
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