‘Amnesia’: Daughter can’t recall ‘chilling’ murder of her mother with knife at Lismore in northern NSW in 2020

The harrowing case of a Clarence woman who has pleaded guilty to murdering her mum with a knife in a Lismore home has been deemed “sad” and “chilling” in the Supreme Court. Here’s what we know.

The North Coast woman who killed her mum can’t remember the attack, the NSW Supreme Court at Lismore has heard.

The harrowing case of a North Coast woman who has pleaded guilty to murdering her mum with a knife at Lismore has been deemed “sad” and “chilling” by a Supreme Court justice.

The woman aged in her 30s has pleaded guilty to murdering her mother in her 60s while suffering from acute mental health issues and the resounding consequences of a disadvantaged and deprived background.

Police came across a horrific scene. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Justice Richard Weinstein said at a hearing on Tuesday the crime was “very objectively serious” and “must be denounced, it cannot be obliterated” – despite the offender’s struggles.

Heard at Lismore Courthouse, the case has been subject to a non publication order prohibiting identification of various people, including the offender.

Justice Weinstein warned the daughter “will” end up facing “a custodial sentence” – meaning imprisonment for her offending.

The mum was found dead at her Lismore home in August 2020. Officers faced a confronting scene and it was obvious violence had occurred, police state.

Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell told the court the Clarence daughter suffered “entrenched borderline personality disorder” and had been angry as a result.

The daughter fatally attacked her mother with a knife in her own home. Picture: File/NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

He said a professor working on the case “identifies dysregulation of mood” and “mood swings (which) manifest in anger”.

Mr Campbell said it had an impact on the daughter’s impulse control, which resulted in her killing her mother in her own home.

The woman went to the victim’s home and stood quietly for about 20 minutes before the murder, the court heard.

Public defender lawyer Jason Watts told the court that time indicated an intention to kill. He said the murder weapon was a knife taken from the home.

Mr Watts told the court the daughter suffered “psychogenic amnesia” at the time of the killing.

The murder happened on a usually sleepy street in Lismore in northern NSW. File image.

The term describes memory dysfunction episodes seemingly preceded by stress or trauma, when no brain damage is evident, according to medical literature.

But the woman said earlier in proceedings pleading guilty was the “responsible” thing to do.

She sat quietly during proceedings, showing little visible emotion.

The woman waited outside the Lismore home before using a knife taken from inside to commit the murder. Picture: Tanawit Sabprasan/iStock

Police arrested her several days after the slaying and the plea was entered on August 4, 2023.

Justice Weinstein said he wanted to know more about the mental health issues and how it impacted the woman’s thoughts and behaviour leading up to the murder.

The case was adjourned and is due to be heard again on Thursday.