Stepson accused of nail gun attack to front court
Days before a young Sydney man allegedly tried to kill his stepmother with a nail gun on Christmas Day the woman posted on social media that her kids are “the greatest gift I’ve ever received”.
Days before a young Sydney man allegedly tried to kill his stepmother with a nail gun on Christmas Day the woman posted on social media that her kids are “the greatest gift I’ve ever received”.
Family festivities turned to horror when Ragni Narayan was shot three times in the head outside her Bonnyrigg Heights home on Tuesday night.
The 50-year-old was rushed to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition to undergo emergency surgery and her condition has since improved to stable.
Police charged her 20-year-old stepson Akaash Narayan with wounding with intent to murder, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 25 years.
Narayan was not required to appear and did not apply for bail when his matter was briefly heard in Parramatta Bail Court on Thursday.
Police allege the pair got into a verbal fight about 10.30pm on Christmas night at the home on Messina Crescent before Narayan got the nail gun from his car and shot his stepmum at close range in the driveway.
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Neurosurgeons are working to get the nails removed and carry out tests to determine whether Mrs Narayan has been left with permanent brain damage.
The violent tragedy is a jarring contrast to social media photos showing the two smiling together and hugging.
Three days before she was allegedly attacked, Mrs Narayan shared a Facebook post saying “My children are the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I love them with all my heart.”
Police say her stepson ran from the house but officers with the help of the dog squad caught Narayan nearby on Northumberland Street at about 3.40am on Boxing Day.
He’ll remain behind bars at Amber Laurel prison in Emu Plains until he fronts Fairfield Local Court via video link on March 7.
The court heard police need time to analyse forensic material including DNA tests and The Daily Telegraph has been told there was “a lot of blood”.
There’s no clue yet about what sparked the argument but it is understood drugs were not involved.
Ms Narayan’s distraught husband Vikash Narayan was treated for shock outside the family home after the incident.
Earlier in December his wife shared a Facebook post saying “my son may be a man to the world, but he will always be my little boy to me and I love him more than most could ever believe”.
In a September post dedicated to “my son” Mrs Narayan posted: “you are the joy of my life, the source of my dearest memories, the inspiration for my fondest wishes, and the sweetest present life could ever give anyone”.
A large group of supporters believed to be Narayan’s relatives and young friends refused to comment outside court.
Fairfield Police Station acting Inspector Paul Luczak told reporters the incident was “horrific” and that the woman had “severe injuries to her head”.
“They were celebrating Christmas and we’re not sure what actually started the incident. It was just immediate family there,” he said.
“Christmas is traditionally a hard time for police because there is an increase in domestic violence incidents.”
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